Meatballs are seriously underrated in this country. They can be served up within 20 minutes and they are hellishly delicious. A quick whizz round the supermarket with this short ingredient list means you can be home and have dinner on the table even before the 6 o’clock news has finished. With a bit of persuasion the kids will even help with the most tricky bit — rolling the balls.
Fast and simple is not my speciality and not at all what I do in the kitchen at Vinnies so whenever I do have to cook dinner for the family after rushing back from ballet or rugby practice, my wife Jane laughs at how long it jolly takes me and how many dishes I produce. So it’s three of Jane’s recipes I am sharing here to help us all get dinner on the table quickly and efficiently.
Ingredients
| 500 g | Beef mince (Main) |
| 1 | Egg, lightly whisked |
| 2 cloves | Garlic, finely grated |
| ¼ cup | Grated parmesan cheese (Main) |
| 1 medium | Onion, grated |
| 1 Tbsp | Chopped parsley |
| 2 tsp | Chopped rosemary |
| ½ cup | Fresh breadcrumbs |
| 3 Tbsp | Olive oil |
| 400 g | Pasta sauce, tomato based (Main) |
| ½ cup | Mozzarella cheese, grated |
| ½ cup | Tasty cheese |
Directions
- Mix together beef, egg, garlic, parmesan, onion, herbs and breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper then roll dessert spoonfuls of meat mix into even-sized balls.
- In a large frying pan heat oil, add meatballs and fry until the balls begin to brown.
- Add tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle over cheeses then place under a hot grill. Top with extra chopped parsley and serve with pasta.
