When I make my Italian meat balls I always remember the scene in The Godfather (one of my favourite movies) where Clemenza is teaching Michael how to make the perfect tomato sauce for them, just in case he needs one day to make it for 20 guys, then Sonny interrupts and tells them to 'cut the crap and we've got more important things to do'……Well, sorry, Sonny, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one…these meatballs are so drop dead perfectly delicious…nothing can be more important….Enjoy!!!!
Ingredients
450g ground beef
450g ground pork
2/3 cup milk
3 oz white bread
3 oz white bread
¼ cup anari cheese
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh parsley,
1 teaspoon oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup flour for dusting
1/3 cup olive oil
For the Tomato Sauce:
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 tablespoons olive oil
Basil and parsley
¼ cup red wine
Method
This is an easy very quick way to make a rich tomato sauce, I just blend all the Tomato Sauce ingredients and then simmer until your sauce is nice and thick…that's it!!!!
Now, for the meat balls…..heat the milk in a small pot. Tear the bread into small pieces and soak in the milk until you have a paste. Leave to cool.
In a large bowl combine the beef, pork, anari cheese, parmesan, eggs, herbs and salt and pepper, the bread mixture. Use your hands to mix mixture well.
Once mixed, I used an ice-cream scoop as a measure for each meatball. Now, roll in your hands and then coat with flour. I placed them on a baking sheet as I was making them and then placed them in the fridge for a while.
Heat the olive oil in a large pan and over a medium heat start to brown the meat balls, turning gently until all sides are browned. What I usually do at this point is turn my heat down and cover the pan with a lid until centers are cooked through.
Once, cooked place meat balls in the heated sauce and serve with spaghetti sprinkled with parmesan.
Bon Appetito!!!
Androulla xxx
