Spaghetti bolognese and variations of it are one of Mr Rigg’s favourite meals. I’m not so keen on spaghetti bolognese as we know it in this country, made with minced beef – I would rather make a sauce of slow cooked meat.
So whilst trying to be a good girlfriend, last night I used some leftover minced pork to make tiny meatballs to sit on a bowl of pasta and served with lashings of homemade tomato sauce.
I say they were ‘made up’ meatballs, because I just added bits and pieces as I saw fit. The ‘bits and pieces’ included breadcrumbs, fresh sage, grated Parmesan, an egg and seasoning of salt and pepper. I mixed this all together and started to make my meatballs.
I made them quite tiny – like a large marble size – and popped them on a tray and into the fridge to firm up for a bit.
Next I fried them in a little oil to brown them – and set off the smoke alarm…which is a regular occurence in our house – our neighbours must think we are terrible cooks!
Then the final stage of cooking them was to pop them into the oven covered with foil whilst the pasta cooked.
I popped the cooked meatballs on top of the pile of steaming pasta and then ladled over some of my homemade tomato sauce. Topped with a little grated Parmesan and plenty of black pepper for me, they were scrumy.
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January 19, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Jen
This looks so lovely! Reading your blog always makes me hungry! Think I might have to have a go at making your ‘made up meatballs’! x
January 19, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Grazing Kate
An even yummier thing to do is to brown the meatballs and then cook them in the tomato sauce for a while – they go softer and gooier and the sauce tastes meatier. Takes a little longer, but worth it!
January 23, 2011 at 11:43 am
CharlieB
I thought about this, but I was worried my meatballs were so fragile that they would break up in the sauce. Will have to try it sometime though and hope for the best they stay together!
January 23, 2011 at 11:43 am
CharlieB
Thanks Jen, I think meatballs should feature more regularly in our meals as they’re so easy to do but really quite tasty.