Melting Meatballs With Pasta Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make meatballs: Saute shallot and garlic in olive oil and let cool. Combine all ingredients together and mix well. Scoop into 1-ounce meatballs and shape by hand. Place on a sheet pan and bake for 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. After meatballs have cooled, trim off the top and bottom so that the meatballs lay flat and the pasta piles can rest on top.
• To make the Angel Hair Piles: Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Add the flour stirring continuously. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat. Add heavy cream while constantly whisking. Turn off heat once the cream starts to boil and thicken. Whisk in cheese. Gently mix the cream sauce and the truffle oil with the pasta and season with salt and pepper. Using a cocktail fork or fondue fork gather about 10 to 12 strands of pasta and roll into a pile small enough to fit on top of each meatball.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To assemble: Place each pile of pasta on a meatball. When completed, cover and heat in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Place on a serving tray and garnish with small oregano leaves.

Steps:

• Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine pork, beef, egg, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, bread crumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly but lightly, handling mixture as little as possible.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of meat mixture into balls 1 inch in diameter, and place on plastic. Refrigerate while making sauce.
• Prepare sauce: Combine onion, garlic and oregano in a food processor, and puree until smooth. Combine butter and oil in a wide, deep pan, and place over low heat until butter melts. Add onion-garlic mixture. Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes; do not brown. Add passata and 2 cups water to pan. Season with sugar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer for 10 minutes, then add milk and bring sauce back to a simmer. Gently drop in meatballs one by one so that they do not break (make sure the meatballs are submerged); do not stir pan. Cover pan partially with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste. Place hot pasta in a large serving bowl. Pour most of sauce (reserving meatballs) on pasta, and toss to combine. Top pasta with meatballs, and serve.

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Shape into small meatballs (at this point you can place on a jelly-roll/baking sheet and freeze to use later, or cover with plastic wrap refrigerate up to 24 hours before using).
• Drop the meatballs into simmering pasta sauce, do not stir for at least 20 minutes or you will risk breaking the meatballs.
• Continue cooking in the simmering sauce for another 20 minutes (depending on how fast your sauce is simmering 40 minutes total should fully cook the meatballs).
• After the 40 minutes cooking time continue cooking your sauce with the meatballs in for as long as desired.
• **note** you may also bake the meatballs at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until cooked through.

Steps:

• Cut the mozzarella into little chunks.
• You'll need one for each meatball.
• Put the beef into a mixing bowl and season with salt, pepper, cumin and thyme.
• Add the egg and mix it all together, preferrably with your hands.
• Have a bowl of water ready to wet your hands after making each meatball.
• Take some of the meat mixture in one hand, flatten it a bit with your palm and put a chunk of mozzarella on top.
• Then roll the meat around the mozzarella until you have a walnut-sized ball.
• Place finished meatballs on a plate and chill for an hour.
• Heat the olive oil and half the butter in a frying pan.
• Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened.
• Add the meatballs and cook for five minutes, until a little crisp and golden, stirring gently from time to time.
• Add the tomato passata and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat, cover and cook for 30 minutes, keeping the heat low and stirring occasionally.
• Cook the pasta according to the packet directions.
• Drain well and toss in a bowl with the remaining butter.
• To finish, stir the pasta into the tomato and meatball mixture.
• Serve, sprinkled with parmesan.

Steps:

• Mix the grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan and parsley in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Mash the mixture together with your hands until combined. Mould the mix into small balls (about walnut-sized) with damp hands. There will be about 20 meatballs.
• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the meatballs for 6-8 mins until golden brown all over. Fry in batches if you need to - they don't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Set aside on a plate.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the pan and fry the chopped onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the remaining garlic, fry for another minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 10 mins until thickened and the tomatoes have broken down. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 mins less than the pack instructions state, in boiling salted water. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Stir the meatballs into the tomato sauce, adding a splash of water if too thick, and bring to a simmer. Drain the pasta and tip into an ovenproof dish. Pour over the sauce and meatballs and mix well. Stir in most of the mozzarella, then scatter the remaining over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the top is slightly crisp.