Search

Random Recipe

Meatball Pasta Bake

Meatball Pasta Bake

It’s not a recipe as such today, more alone the lines of assembly instructions.

We like a Pasta Bake once in a while. We like hand pressed Meatballs. So what could possibly go wrong? I mean it’s not like Mackerel Ice-cream…. The 20% fat Minced Beef was on offer at £1.60 for 500g and the slightly higher fat content than we would generally use meant that the Meatballs were moist and tender.

So Assembly Instructions:-

(1) Grate lots of Cheese and set aside.
(2) Mix whatever Herbs you fancy with your mince and form into balls. It’s a while since we had this meal, but there will certainly have been grated Garlic ( Probably our Lacto-Fermented version ) and mixed Herb, Salt and Pepper in there somewhere.
(3) In salted water boil some Pasta (Gluten free in our case) and once tender drain and set aside.
(4) Make a Tomato based sauce. A tin of chopped Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Salt, Pepper, Herbs etc. and simmer to reduce.
(5) Fry the Meatballs on all side to brown and then reduce the heat and turn for 20 minutes or so.
(6) Heat the oven to 180c.
(7) Add the Pasta to an oven proof dish.
(8) Artistically place the Meatballs at regular interval on the Pasta. Or just bob them in. It really isn’t supposed to be a pretty dish!
(9) Pour the Tomato sauce over the Meatballs.
(10) Add plenty of grated Cheese and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
(11) Pop to finished product under the grill for 5 minutes to brown the melted Cheese.
 

On Facebook

Carrilladas - Pork Cheeks!

Yes we are out of sequence as theoretically it should be “K” next. But Pork Cheeks for £1.40? Can't really pass that up can we?
 
For those of you who don't like “Odd” cuts of meat this might be a bit challenging, But Cheeks are tender, have very little fat and take on flavours really well. So here goes....
 
Ingredients:-
 
2 tbsp Olive Oil for frying
1 large Onion finely chopped
500g of Pork cheeks
1 tbsp Flour seasoned with salt and pepper
3 Garlic cloves crushed
½ tsp ground Cumin
1 tsp Paprika
1 Cinnamon stick
1/2 cup dry red wine ( Very cheap little 1 serving bottle from the local shop £1.20  - I'll probably not drink it! But good for cooking )
2 cups Beef stock
 
Method:-
 
(1) Heat 1 - 2 tbsp Olive Oil in a large pan then add the onion.
(2) Cook gently for 10 – 15 minutes until softened and lighty coloured. Remove and set aside.
(3) Toss the cheeks in the seasoned flour. Add a little more oil to the pan and turn up the heat. 
(4) Brown the Pork cheeks all over in batches, setting them aside when browned. Turn the heat down to medium.
(5) Return all the Pork and the onions to the pan. Add the Garlic, Cumin, Paprika, Cinnamon and cook for a minute.
(6) Pour in the wine. Deglaze the bottom on the pan.
(7) Pour in the Beef Stock then bring the pan to a simmer. 
(8) Simmer gently for 2 hours or until the cheeks are tender.
 
We're thinking about serving on a bed of mashed Potatoes with veg. We shall see!

Social Links

Translate

English French German Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish