Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Are you looking for a simple, quick and tasty way to use minced meat? Here’s a recipe that will meet your expectations – meatballs in tomato sauce. These tiny balls of meat literally melt in your mouth, and a large amount of herbs gives them a unique flavor. What’s more, their small size means they fry quickly. Soft, fluffy meatballs are a perfect way to make a dinner out of ground meat.
Tomato sauce is also very simple, all you need is broth, tomato paste, a few herbs and it’s ready. Perfect with potatoes or bulgur. By the way, if you haven’t tried bulgur with vermicelli pasta, you absolutely must. It’s a HIT at my home! You will certainly get it in larger supermarkets.
Do I have to coat the meatballs in flour?
Coat the meatballs in flour before frying. Thanks to this, the meatballs will not fall apart and will not stick to the pan, and the flour will additionally thicken the sauce. You can replace wheat flour with potato or corn starch.
How to season meat for meatballs?
To make minced meat tasty, you need to add a lot of herbs and spices. I season meatballs in tomato sauce with lovage, oregano, marjoram, tarragon, savory and paprika. You can’t forget about garlic either!
Is onion added to meatballs?
You don’t have to add onion to the meatballs. You can also add raw or fried onion. I always add chopped and fried onion to meatballs. It adds a sweet flavor to the meatballs.
How long do meatballs need to cook?
After frying, cook the small meatballs for about 10 minutes, covered. Larger meatballs may need about 20 minutes.
How to make thick meatball sauce?
The sauce can be additionally thickened with cream or a teaspoon of starch mixed with 100 ml of cold water.
How much minced meat for meatballs?
400 g of meat makes approximately 6 dinner portions (including sauce, potatoes/groats/rice and a portion of vegetables).
Is egg added to meatballs?
Egg makes the meat more compact and hard, but it is easier to fry and form, and the meatballs keep their shape easier. Add 1-2 eggs per 500 g of meat.
Can meatballs be made without eggs?
Meatballs can be prepared without an egg. If you wish to make meatballs without an egg it is a good idea to prepare small meatballs and fry them in very hot oil so that they do not fall apart.
What can I use instead of breadcrumbs for meatballs?
Breadcrumbs can be replaced with yeast flakes, roll soaked in milk, or you can omit the addition of breadcrumbs.
What meat are the meatballs made of?
Cooked meatballs taste best when made from turkey or pork. You can choose ham, shoulder or mixed meat.
What kind of sauce are the meatballs in?
Meatballs are most often cooked in tomato or dill sauce.
Are meatballs fried?
Coat the meatballs in flour and fry in a small amount of oil. Thanks to this, they maintain their shape. The outside of the meat ‘closes’, the protein curdles and the center of the meat ‘sets’ while cooking in the sauce. This keeps the meatballs soft inside.
Meatballs in tomato sauce with breadcrumbs and coated in flour contain gluten. To prepare gluten-free meatballs, do not add breadcrumbs and coat them in starch (potato or corn flour).
The proportions given below will yield approximately 500 g of meatballs and 500 ml of tomato sauce, i.e. approximately 6 portions.
Read the step-by-step recipe on how to prepare meatballs in tomato sauce and watch the video below the recipe.
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Meatballs in tomato sauce
Meatballs in tomato sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 400 g ground meat (e.g. pork)
- 1 egg
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp hot paprika
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp lovage
- 2 tsp marjoram
- 2 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp tarragon
- ½ tsp savory
- 3 tbsp flour (to coat the meatballs)
- pepper
- salt
- oil (for frying)
Sauce
- 500 ml broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp lovage
- pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Chop or mince the onion and garlic. Then fry in a pan with a little bit of oil.1 onion, 4 cloves garlic, oil
- Mix fried onions with raw meat, egg, bread crumbs and spices. Knead the meat for 2-3 minutes. Then form it into small balls and roll them in flour.400 g ground meat, 1 egg, 2 tbsp breadcrumbs, 2 tsp marjoram, 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp hot paprika, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp lovage, 2 tsp oregano, ½ tsp tarragon, ½ tsp savory, 3 tbsp flour, pepper, salt
- Fry the finished meatballs in a heated frying pan for a few minutes on each side until they are browned.oil
- Pour broth with tomato paste into the fried meatballs. Add spices, cover and cook for about 10 minutes. Serve with potatoes or groats.500 ml broth, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp parsley, 1 tsp basil, 1 tsp lovage, pepper, salt
Video
Nutrition
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
