zaterdag 28 mei 2011

Meatballs and pasta


Mad about herbs is this weeks theme at I Heart Cooking Club to cook with one of Jamie Olivers recipes. I decided to make spagetti with meatballs, and it was rockin'. The flavours of the herbs where great together. Feel free to join in!
IHCCJamieOliver

ingredients
serves 4-6

• 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 12 Jacob’s cream crackers
• 2 heaped teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 500g good-quality minced beef, pork, or a mixture of the two
• 1 heaped tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 large egg, preferably free-range or organic
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• olive oil
• a bunch of fresh basil
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• ½ a fresh or dried red chilli
• 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 400g dried spaghetti or penne
• Parmesan cheese, for grating


method

Meatballs are fantastic! They’re perfect like this, with a one-minute homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti, but you could also try polenta or simple chunks of fresh crust bread. I like to make meatballs with a mixture of beef and pork, as I think it gives a really wonderful flavour and texture.

To make your meatballs
• Pick the rosemary leaves off the woody stalks and finely chop them
• Wrap the crackers in a tea towel and smash up until fine, breaking up any big bits with your hands
• Add to a mixing bowl with the mustard, minced meat, chopped rosemary and oregano
• Crack in the egg and add a good pinch of salt and pepper
• With clean hands scrunch and mix up well
• Divide into 4 large balls
• With wet hands, divide each ball into 6 and roll into little meatballs – you should end up with 24
• Drizzle them with olive oil and jiggle them about so they all get coated
• Put them on a plate, cover and place in the fridge until needed

To cook your pasta, meatballs and sauce
• Pick the basil leaves, keeping any smaller ones to one side for later
• Peel and finely chop the onion and the garlic
• Finely slice the chilli
• Put a large pan of salted water on to boil
• Next, heat a large frying pan on a medium heat and add 2 lugs of olive oil
• Add your onion to the frying pan and stir for around 7 minutes or until softened and lightly golden
• Then add your garlic and chilli, and as soon as they start to get some colour add the large basil leaves
• Add the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar
• Bring to the boil and season to taste
• Meanwhile, heat another large frying pan and add a lug of olive oil and your meatballs
• Stir them around and cook for 8–10 minutes until golden (check they’re cooked by opening one up – there should be no sign of pink)
• Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer until the pasta is ready, then remove from the heat
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the packet instructions

To serve your meatballs
• Saving some of the cooking water, drain the pasta in a colander
• Return the pasta to the pan
• Spoon half the tomato sauce into the pasta, adding a little splash of your reserved water to loosen
• Serve on a large platter, or in separate bowls, with the rest of the sauce and meatballs on top
• Sprinkle over the small basil leaves and some grated Parmesan




notes:
- didn't had any jacob cream crackers so i used bread crumbs instead
- for the minced meat used half beef half pork like Jamie suggested.
The meatballs where absolutly delicious, this recipe was a real winner and whe don't fancy red sauce on our pasta but after this we do.
From Jamie's ministry of food.

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10 opmerkingen:

  1. That is definitely a beautiful plate! Jamie's meatballs really do sound delicious. I'll have to remember this recipe and give it a try down the road.

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  2. Yum! One very lovely plate of pasta--it looks incredible. Great pick!
    ;-)

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  3. Oh yum! That looks so inviting!!
    Deliciously herby meatballs. And I am very fond of pasta.. very fond. ;-)

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  4. That is really one amazing dish of meatballs and spaghetti! Looks fantastic!

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  5. This looks wonderful and the meatball looks so delicious! My kids really love pasta and I think that they would love this!
    Thank you for stopping by my blog. Nice to see you there. I'm following you. Please do visit again. Have a nice day!

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  6. I'm in love with the idea of adding mustard to meatballs - love that about this recipe! This is a gorgeous plate of food, one of my absolute favorite things to eat.

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  7. Who doesn't love spaghetti and meatballs? I am definitely bookmarking this version to try. As always, beautiful photos too, Yvette :-)

    Sue xo

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  8. Sounds Delish!!

    New to ur space and so Happy to follow u :)

    Do visit me as time permits
    http://comeletseat.blogspot.com

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  9. Perfect! This is a great dish for us - love pasta meals. Nice choice!

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