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meatballs-poached-in-a-fresh-tomato-sauce

Meatballs Poached in a Fresh Tomato Sauce

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
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Servings

4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 3 slices white bread crusts removed, dampened in 1/2 cup water, squeezed and torn into small pieces
  • 500 g 1lb 2oz lean minced (ground) beef or veal
  • 1 ripe plum tomato halved and coarsely grated (about 1 tbsp)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley use leaves and tender stems
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • sea salt and finely ground white pepper
  • 2 cups peeled seeded and chopped ripe tomatoes or canned chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tender celery stalks with leaves cut into chunks, or 4 fresh sage leaves
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • sea salt and finely ground white pepper
  • 1/2 cup plain all-purpose flour spread on a shallow plate
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp each of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley and fresh dill

Instructions

  • Prepare the meatballs: Grate the onion finely into a strainer (sieve) set over a small bowl. Sprinkle with salt and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
  • Press down with the back of a spoon to squeeze out the juice. Discard the onion. Combine the onion juice with the remaining meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Knead well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.
  • Make the tomato sauce: In a large, shallow, heavy-based pan bring all the tomato sauce ingredients to a boil over a medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Shape the meatballs with dampened hands into about 30 small meatballs.  Dredge the meatballs in the flour, to coat lightly, patting off the excess.  Drop the meatballs gently into the pan with the tomato sauce. When all the meatballs have been added, pour in a little simmering water so that the sauce comes about halfway up the meatballs. Cover and continue to cook at a very low simmer for 20 minutes, until the meatballs are tender and the sauce has thickened. Shake the pan from time to time to ensure the sauce evenly coats the meatballs and prevents them from sticking to the pan.
  • Add a little more hot water if necessary.
  • To serve: Drizzle in the lemon juice and scatter with the fresh herbs.
  • Stella’s Hints:
  • I like to use the brand Wonder bread in the U.S. Use a 41/2cm (13/4in) ice-cream scoop to form evenly sized meatballs. Twist on Tradition: Add 1 tsp ground cumin to the meatball mixture and a pinch Turkish red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce to add another layer of flavour.