Meatballs in tomato sauce

This recipe for meatballs in tomato sauce produces an excellent dish, not too complicated but with a perfect flavour.  The meatballs can be eaten as a tapas dish or, accompanied by rice or potato, for supper or as a main course.

Preparation Time: 15 Mins

Cooking Time: 25 Mins

Total Time: 40 Mins

Ingredients

For 2 servings…

2 tbs               Breadcrumbs  - soaked in water

1                    Egg          

1 tbs               Flour        

1 clove            Garlic  - chopped     

230 gms          Mince  - beef

1 tbs               Olive oil    

1 tbs               Parsley  - chopped    

                      Pepper      

½ tsp             Salt          

For the tomato sauce

1                    Bay leaf     

1                    Onion  - chopped     

1 wine glass      Sherry  - dry

450 gms          Tomatoes  - chopped

Method

Mix the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic and herbs together with the salt and pepper until the mixture is a firm ball of paste.  Divide it into 10-12 walnut-sized balls.  Roll them lightly in the flour.

Heat the oil in a skillet, put in the meatballs and fry them gently for 5-6 minutes - turning them to cook on all sides.  Remove the meatballs and keep them warm.

To make the sauce…

The meat will have released extra fat into the pan.  Use that to fry the onion gently until it softens. Add the tomatoes and bubble up fiercely until the sauce thickens.  Add the sherry and bay leaf and heat again to evaporate the alcohol.  Return the meatballs to the pan, cover and cook gently in the sauce for 10 minutes.

Serve the meatballs with the sauce.

Wine recommendations

Conventional

     Fino Sherry

Interesting

     Brouilly

     Côte Chalonnaise blanc

     Côtes du Rhône