Italian Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

Serves

4

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

23 minutes

Ingredients

For the tomato sauce:
  2 tbsp olive oil
  5.6 oz (75 g) shallots, diced
  4 garlic cloves
  ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  2 x 14 oz (400 g) cans diced tomatoes
  2 tbsp tomato paste
  1 tsp dried oregano
  ½ tsp salt
  ¼ tsp black pepper
  10 basil leaves, torn
For the meatballs:
  2 oz (60 g) breadcrumbs
  2 fl oz (60 ml) milk
  2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  1 tsp dried oregano
  ¾ tsp sea salt
  ¼ tsp black pepper
  2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  1 egg
  1 tsp Dijon mustard
  1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
  1 tsp olive oil

Nutrition

(Per Serving)

Calories

403

Fats

21 g

Protein

29 g

Carbs

22 g

Instructions

  • To make the tomato sauce, place a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and sauté the shallots for 3-4 minutes until fragrant, then add the garlic and sauté for a further minute. Add the red pepper flakes, oregano, canned tomatoes, and tomato puree, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to reduce. Stir in the basil leaves.
  • To make the meatballs, mix the breadcrumbs with the milk, then add the parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, egg, and Dijon mustard, and stir to combine. Now mix in the ground beef and use your hands to roll the mixture into 16 even-sized meatballs.
  • Add the olive oil to a non-stick skillet and place over medium-high heat. Cooking in batches, add the meatballs to the skillet and sauté until all sides are browned. Place the meatballs in tomato sauce and simmer for 8 minutes.
  • This recipe makes 16 meatballs, allowing 4 meatballs per serving.