Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients

• •500g Pork mince (20% fat)
• •500g Beef mince (12%-20% fat)
• 🥚2 Eggs
• •50g Panko breadcrumbs
• •60g Shredded Parmesan
• 🧄3 Garlic cloves
• 🧅1 Onion
• •Handful, chopped Fresh basil
• 🧄2 tbsp Black garlic paste*
• 🧂2 tsp Italian seasoning
• •1 tsp Thyme
• 🧂To taste Salt and pepper
• •For the sauce:
• 🍅2 tins Chopped tinned tomatoes
• 🧅1 Onion
• 🧄2 Garlic cloves
• •1 Bay leaf
• •1 small piece Parmesan rind
• •3 sprigs Basil
• •1 piece about the length of your thumb Orange rind
• 🍅1 tbsp Tomato paste
• 🧂1 tsp Italian seasoning
• •1/4 tsp Thyme
• •1/2 tsp Sage
• 🧂To taste Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. 1For the meatballs, mince three cloves of garlic and fry one diced onion, letting it cool before continuing.
2. 2Combine all the meatball ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Remember to cook a small piece of the mixture to taste for seasoning before continuing.
3. 3*A note about the black garlic paste: This is just here to add an extra depth of flavour. You can skip it if you wish or substitute for something like Worcestershire sauce, but I found the black garlic is a great addition.
4. 4Separate your mixture and form the meatballs, making about 30. I use a cookie scoop or sometimes weigh out my mixture.
5. 5Brown the meatballs on a frying pan and set aside.
6. 6If your frying pan is not deep enough to make the sauce in, deglaze the pan with a little water and set this liquid aside.
7. 7To begin the sauce, sauté your onion and garlic for a few minutes until they become fragrant. Then, add the ingredients for the sauce, including the deglazing liquid. You can tie the basil sprigs, bay leaf, orange rind, and Parmesan rind into a bouquet garni as you’ll be removing these later, or just put them in and remove them separately.
8. 8Add the meatballs into the sauce once it begins to bubble. If the sauce doesn’t almost cover the meatballs, add a bit of water.
9. 9Cover and simmer on low for 40-60 minutes. If you want a smooth sauce, remove the meatballs and blitz in a food processor.
10. 10CRUCIAL STEP: Let the sauce sit overnight, absolutely do not skip this. Leaving the sauce to sit out overnight lets the flavours fully develop.
11. 11To serve, cook your pasta and add the meatballs and sauce on top. Add some extra parmesan on top if desired.