Meatball Pasta Marvel

Meat The Ultimate Family Favorite!

Looking for a quick and delicious meal that your whole family will love? Look no further than this Meatball Pasta Marvel! It's the kids' absolute favourite dish, and it's no wonder why—tender meatballs, flavorful tomato sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta come together in no time. The best part? You can prep the sauce in the morning and just reheat the sauce and add boiled pasta for dinner. Whether you're looking for a cozy family dinner or something to impress guests, this dish is always a winner. Trust me, your family will be asking for seconds (and maybe even thirds)!

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the meatballs

• 500 gr. lean minced meat

• 1 onion

• 1 egg

• 3 Tbsp bread crums

• 1 Tsp paprika

• Salt & pepper to taste

  
  

For the tomato sauce

• 400 gr. chopped tomato

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1-2 cloves of garlic (crushed)

• 1 Tbsp tomato paste

• 1 Tbsp pepper paste (optional)

• Hand full of fresh basil

• 320 gr. pasta of your choice

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 190°C-200°C (375°F-400°F). In a large bowl, combine the minced meat, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, onion, and paprika. Using your hands, mix everything thoroughly until well incorporated. If the mixture feels too wet, gradually add more breadcrumbs until it holds together. Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, it should be about 16 balls) and place them in a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, turning the meatballs halfway through to ensure even cooking.

  
  

• Once the meatballs are in the oven, begin preparing the pasta sauce. In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic for about a minute, being careful not to burn it. Add the canned tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste and if using, the pepper paste and paprika. Let the sauce simmer on very low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• In a large pot, bring 1 liter of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Once the meatballs are cooked, add them to the tomato sauce, allowing them to absorb the flavours on very low heat while the pasta finishes cooking. Add half of the basil to the sauce.

• Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of the pasta water. Mix the pasta with the meatball sauce, adding reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if it's too thick. Stir in the rest of the fresh basil and enjoy!

Notes: When cooking meatballs in the oven, I don’t use any oil; the meat releases enough fat to cook the meat.