Versatile and easy meatballs!
It is not often I find a simple recipe that is ready in under 40 minutes that is as versatile as this one. I found the recipe while watching
Bill Granger’s Notting Hill TV series which he named "Spicy Meatballs". While these meatballs aren't very spicy, they are packed with flavour and for those who love spice can easily make them a lot more spicy with one tweak I add as optional below. I have also chosen not to include the breadcrumbs Bill uses as I know so many people these days are gluten free or avoid gluten for other health reasons.
Why do I think these meatballs are so versatile? Two reasons:
- They can be made with any type of mince. So far I have tried both lamb as Bill calls for and beef which is leaner. They were equally delicious.
- These meatballs can easily be served as a main dish in their own right with crusty bread for dipping and greens OR they can easily be used for spaghetti and meatballs or even meatball sandwiches for work the next day.
This recipe serves 2 people with a small amount of leftovers.
Ingredients:
- 500g Lamb/Beef/Pork Mince
- 1 grated red onion
- 1 diced large red chilli (to make these truly spicy try 2 small bird eye chillies or you can add our Marysol hot sauces to taste when serving)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- Thumb print size grated ginger
- Salt and pepper
- Handful each of chopped coriander and parsley
- 1 egg lightly whisked
- Two cans tomato 500g (different)
- 2 cloves garlic
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
- Mix all the ingredients together with a cooks spoon or wooden spoon.
- Roll into small balls without compressing or compacting the meat so they remain light and fluffy.
- Place on a non-stick roasting pan or oven tray.
- Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Heat on the stovetop some extra virgin olive oil in a large saute pan, chefs pan or casserole.
- Place two cans of tomatoes in the pan with 2 crushed cloves of garlic.
- Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes while your meatballs are baking.
- Remove from the oven your meatballs and place in the pan simmering on the stovetop along with the oil.
- Cover with a lid and simmer for a further 10 minutes before serving.
This simple yet delicious recipe will be a hit with your friends and family. So delicious it seems you spent hours not 40 minutes in the kitchen!
