MELTING MEATBALL MACARONI

Melting meatball macaroni image

This recipe has all the elements of comfort food: beef and pork meatballs with an oozing cheesy filling, a rich tomato sauce and pasta

Provided by Cassie Best

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 17

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Ingredients

300g pork mince
400g beef mince (with around 10% fat)
½ tsp fennel seeds
½ tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp dried oregano
200g taleggio or mozzarella , chopped into small chunks
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion , finely chopped
4 garlic cloves , crushed
2 tsp tomato purée
50ml red wine
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
500ml passata
3 bay leaves
2 tsp golden caster sugar
400g macaroni or other pasta shape
crusty bread , to serve (optional)

Steps:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the pork and beef mince with the fennel seeds, chilli, 1 tsp oregano and some seasoning in a large bowl until combined. Divide and shape into 18 meatballs with a nugget or two of taleggio in the middle (save some for the top), then chill for 10 mins.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan (use a flameproof casserole dish if you can - it'll save on washing up). Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sizzle until softened (about 8 mins). Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 min more, then add the tomato purée, wine, tomatoes, passata, bay leaves, sugar, the remaining oregano and lots of seasoning, then cover with a lid and simmer for 20 mins. Meanwhile, arrange the meatballs on a baking tray lined with foil, drizzle with the remaining oil and bake for 10 mins.
Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to packet instructions, then drain, reserving some water. If the pan isn't ovenproof, tip the sauce into a casserole dish. Stir the pasta into the sauce, along with the liquid from the meatballs and some pasta water if it needs thinning. Turn the grill to a medium-high setting.
Nestle the meatballs into the pasta, so that they poke out the top. Scatter the remaining taleggio over the top and grill for 5-10 mins until the cheese and meatballs are golden. Serve with crusty bread, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 646 calories, Fat 24 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 40 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 36 grams protein, Sodium 1.8 milligram of sodium