Classic Italian spaghetti meatballs

Classic Italian spaghetti meatballs

PREP TIME

20 minutes

COOK TIME

20 minutes

SERVES

4-6 people

Ingredients

MEATBALLS

SAUCE

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 x 400g tins crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp The Spice People’s Oregano Leaves
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 500g pasta
  • oregano and parmesan, to garnish

The love this recipe

Spaghetti doesn’t have to be boring, there are so many different flavours you can use to vary the seasoning and sauce base.

This is a classic Italian beef meat ball recipe distinguished by the addition of lemon zest. The meat balls are braised in a saucepan before adding to the tomato sauce, giving rich caramalised flavour to the meat balls. As with many Italian dishes the rich tomato sauce is flavoured with oregano leaves.

Directions

  1. To make the meatballs: Combine all the meatball ingredients into a large bowl. Using your hands’ mix thoroughly, kneading the mixture until sticky enough to form small golf-ball-sized balls. Use your hands to form the meatballs, using enough pressure to keep the ball shape. Cover with glad wrap and refrigerate for 15 min, while you prepare the sauce base.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a deep-dish pan, add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent approx 5 min. Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, oregano, sugar and simmer to let the flavors develop approx 10 min. If the sauce is too thick, a little water may be added.
  3. In a separate saucepan, heat the oil and add the meatballs. Sauté until the meatballs are browned well on each side. Reduce the heat and add the tomato sauce to the meatballs, simmer a further 10 min.
  4. Cook the pasta as per packet instructions. Serve the spaghetti meatballs with pasta and garnish with parmesan and oregano.

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