Lamb Main Italian

Greek meatballs in tomato sauce

Name: Greek meatballs in tomato sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: /italian
Ingredients: 3 thick slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into pieces; 1/2 cup (125ml) red wine; 500g lamb mince; 1 small onion, grated; 2.00 garlic clove, finely chopped; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to garnish; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; Mashed potato, to serve; 2 cups (500ml) Rich & Thick Classic Tomatoes; 2 tablespoons Diced Tomatoes; 2 tablespoons Pureed Tomatoes; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon caster sugar; 1 bay leaf

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by Jill Dupleix

Food writer

Oct 03, 2015

These meatballs will be a hit, not just for their lightness, but also for the gorgeously simple sauce. It calls for the big three – passata, paste and ketchup – so you get a real intensity, good consistency and a little hint of sweetness and vinegar.

3 thick slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into pieces
1/2 cup (125ml) red wine
500g lamb mince
1 small onion, grated
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to garnish
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mashed potato, to serve

Sauce

2 cups (500ml) Ardmona Rich & Thick Classic Tomatoes
2 tablespoons Ardmona Diced Tomatoes
2 tablespoons Ardmona Pureed Tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon caster sugar
1 bay leaf

Method

1.

Preheat the oven to 180C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2.

Soak bread in wine for 5 minutes, then squeeze the excess wine from the bread, reserving liquid for the sauce.
3.

Combine bread, mince, onion, garlic, egg, parsley and spices in a bowl. Season and mix well with your hands. Shape into 16 balls, then place on the lined tray and bake for 20 minutes or until browned.
4.

Meanwhile, for the sauce, combine all ingredients and reserved wine in a deep frypan, then simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until thickened. Season, then add meatballs and simmer for a further 10 minutes, turning to coat, or until meatballs are cooked through.
5.

Serve meatballs and sauce with mashed potato, garnished with extra parsley.