rummaging around in the freezer this arvo, looking for inspiration and finding none, I stumbled across the last of the baked meatballs my Kind Auntie Nettie gave us a while ago.
I'm not a big fan of meatballs and/or hamburgers. mince has to be browned on all sides and then some, or I think it's kinda grey and anaemic and ickily textured. when I make spag bol, that mince is pounded and slapped about in the saucepan until it's been dead at least half a dozen times and crumbled finely with NO LUMPS. but a while ago I had meatballs at K & A's and it was really easy and very yummy indeed. so here's my take on them.
1. get your conveniently premade-by-an-Aunt-and-frozen meatballs and space them out in a casserole/pyrex dish. I used about 15, which makes two meals for two and a half people.
2. let them thaw a bit while you make the sauce.
3. tip a big tin (800ml I think) of tomatoes into a bowl.
4. add a jar of salsa (medium gives a nice amount of zing). if you don't want to use salsa, more tomato is fine, say another small (400ml-ish) tin.
5. add whatever you like to add to pasta sauce. this time round, I added garlic, mild paprika, parsley, basil, oregano, and some roasted capsicum finely diced. if I was just making it for me, I'd add olives and artichokes too.
6. spoon over meatballs. you can pour, but they tend to go sliding a bit more, and being the sort I am, I like to Know Where My Meatballs Are (and that can be taken as a euphemism if you like).
7. bake for a while. this is where things get nebulous. I think it was about 180-200C for about 45 mins. the sauce should be not-quite-finger-burningly-hot in the middle.
8. pull out of the oven, top with whatever grated cheese you like (this time I couldn't be arsed grating, and I like the pizza mix which is mozzerella, parmesan and cheddar. I think it's Perfecto?).
9. whack it back in the oven on about 160-180C until cheese is melty, and the edge of the sauce is bubbling. I keep cheese in the freezer so it takes a little longer, and I like it to just start browning on top.
10. serve on top of rice or pasta. it's really good with rice, in fact I think I prefer it.
11. be careful as you start to eat because it's frigging hot.
I'm secretly thinking of trying this with some Ikea meatballs. just don't tell anyone. actually, I suspect TDN(tm) would be thrilled to bits because she's been trying to find an excuse to buy a pack of them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I actually really really like the Ikea meatballs. Don't know why. Just do.
ReplyDeletethey're very plain and not fatty, and taste like decent quality mince, too. I absolutely *love* the Incredibly Suspicious Gravy they put on top. if I had a plate of really good chips covered with that gravy I'd be a well satisfied piece of toast :-)
ReplyDeletehehe. I make sketti and meatballs using those ikea meatballs. I blame my sister for giving me the idea.
ReplyDeleteNext time we get some I may have to lash out and get a packet of the suspicious gravy and the lingonberry jam as well.
nomnomnom
what??????
ReplyDelete!!?!
you can buy the Incredibly Suspicious Gravy?
be still my clogging arteries!
What????
ReplyDeleteYou can buy Ikea meatballs in packets???
Oh yeah. In kilo bags. We were half debating if it was economically feasible to be bags of them for Yule.
ReplyDeleteBut the Yule food turned out much yummier. Hoorah for fish sauce.