Melting meatball macaroni
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 6
Skip to ingredients
Ingredients
- 300g pork mince
- 400g beef mince (with around 10% fat)
- ½ tsp fennel seeds
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 200g taleggio or mozzarella, chopped into small chunks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp tomato purée
- 50ml red wine
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 500ml passata
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tsp golden caster sugar
- 400g macaroni or other pasta shape
- crusty bread, to serve (optional)
Method
- STEP 1
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the pork and beef mince with the fennel seeds, chilli, 1 tsp oregano and some seasoning in a large bowl until combined. Divide and shape into 18 meatballs with a nugget or two of taleggio in the middle (save some for the top), then chill for 10 mins.
- STEP 2
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan (use a flameproof casserole dish if you can – it’ll save on washing up). Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sizzle until softened (about 8 mins). Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 min more, then add the tomato purée, wine, tomatoes, passata, bay leaves, sugar, the remaining oregano and lots of seasoning, then cover with a lid and simmer for 20 mins. Meanwhile, arrange the meatballs on a baking tray lined with foil, drizzle with the remaining oil and bake for 10 mins.
- STEP 3
Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to packet instructions, then drain, reserving some water. If the pan isn't ovenproof, tip the sauce into a casserole dish. Stir the pasta into the sauce, along with the liquid from the meatballs and some pasta water if it needs thinning. Turn the grill to a medium-high setting.
- STEP 4
Nestle the meatballs into the pasta, so that they poke out the top. Scatter the remaining taleggio over the top and grill for 5-10 mins until the cheese and meatballs are golden. Serve with crusty bread, if you like.
