Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Here’s a simple recipe for meatballs in tomato sauce:

Ingredients:

For the meatballs:

500g ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix)

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 egg

50g breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)

Olive oil for cooking

For the tomato sauce:

400g crushed tomatoes (canned or fresh)

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to adjust acidity)

1 teaspoon dried herbs or basil

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

Instructions:

Preparing the meatballs:

In a large bowl, mix the ground meat, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, parsley, salt, pepper, and paprika.

Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about the size of a walnut.

Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5-7 minutes. They don’t need to be fully cooked yet, as they will finish cooking in the sauce. Set them aside on a plate.

Preparing the tomato sauce:

In the same pan, add a bit more olive oil if needed and sauté the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, herbs, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Cooking the meatballs in the sauce:

Return the meatballs to the tomato sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, until the meatballs are fully cooked.

Serving:

Serve the meatballs with tomato sauce over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread. You can also garnish with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley.

Enjoy your meal!

Lina