Name: Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, Garlic Bread, and Butter Pudding Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling; 3 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tsp oregano; 1 tsp caster sugar; Small handful basil leaves, finely chopped (reserve some whole to serve, if you like); 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 50g dried breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp milk; 500g beef mince; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 egg; 1 tsp mixed herbs; ½ tsp salt; Black pepper, to season; 1 garlic baguette (around 210g), sliced; 125g ball buffalo mozzarella, drained and torn into pieces; Green salad, to serve

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp caster sugar

Small handful basil leaves, finely chopped (reserve some whole to serve, if you like)

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

1 garlic baguette (around 210g), sliced

125g ball buffalo mozzarella, drained and torn into pieces

Green salad, to serve

50g dried breadcrumbs

2 tbsp milk

500g beef mince

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 egg

1 tsp mixed herbs

Instructions

Step 1: To make the tomato sauce, heat half the olive oil in a flameproof oven dish or ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in oregano, caster sugar, chopped basil, and the chopped tomatoes along with a splash of water from the cans. Bring to a simmer and let it bubble away gently for 15-20 minutes until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Meanwhile, mix the dried breadcrumbs and milk in a large bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to absorb. Add beef mince, finely chopped onion, crushed garlic, egg, mixed herbs, ½ teaspoon salt, and some black pepper. Combine well and shape the mixture into 20 golf ball-sized meatballs.

Step 3: Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides. They do not need to be fully cooked at this stage. Remove the browned meatballs to a plate.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 6. Pour half of the tomato sauce into a baking dish. Layer garlic bread slices and meatballs evenly over the sauce. Drizzle over the remaining tomato sauce and scatter torn mozzarella pieces on top. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Step 5: Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Before serving, scatter some whole basil leaves over the dish and serve alongside a fresh, sharply dressed green salad.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor in the meatballs, try adding a pinch of chili flakes or grated parmesan.

If you prefer, substitute beef mince with turkey or lamb mince for a different taste.

Use a crusty ciabatta or sourdough loaf if garlic baguette is unavailable.

Leftover sauce can be stirred into pasta or used as a dipping sauce for bread.

FAQs

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the tomato sauce and meatballs separately and refrigerate them. Assemble and bake the dish just before serving for best results.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

This dish freezes well. Cool completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating thoroughly in the oven.