Italian Meat ball recipe with an Indian twist #Baked meat ball in tomato sauce recipe

                                                               Meat Balls
                     

This is originally an Italian recipe and i made with lit alterations which goes well with spaghetti or Pasta or simply as such as an appetizer.These meat balls can be made with ground meat or minced meat.We bought ground beef last week and gave a try for this meat ball.Its really an easy dish and can be prepared within no time.This can be prepared in 2 ways.Either first you pressure cook the ground beef separately(Indian style) or Simply mix all the ingredients and bake it in an oven.(Italian)Here I'll explain these 2 methods.Italian recipes use only garlic and no ginger.But we are using both G -G in our Indian cuisine.


Ingredients needed

1. Ground beef or minced beef - 2 cups
2. Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
3. Bread crumbs - 1 cup
4. Egg - 1 
5. Dried parsley/basil - 1/2 Tsp
6. Black pepper powder - 1 Tsp
7. Garlic powder - 1/2 Tsp(or garlic paste)
8. Tomatoes - 3 large 
9.  Salt - to taste

Method 1(Italian)

• In a bowl,mix all the ingredients and knead the meat dough except tomatoes and masalas..Keep this aside  for 5 minutes.
• Mean while,prepare tomato sauce,In a pan,add 1 tb sp olive oil,then add tomato puree,lit salt and dried basil leaves.stir it and allow to boil.when it starts boiling,simmer it for 2 minutes and switch off the flame.
• Pre heat the oven to 325 deg F and grease a cookie tray with olive oil.(Use aluminium foil for easy cleaning).
• Using an Ice cream scoop,scoop out the kneaded meat and make balls.(Apply olive oil to your palms for easy handling).
• Keep the meat balls in pre greased cooking tray and bake it for 15- 20 minutes or until the meat is cooked.
• Last 2 minutes,keep the oven temp to broil stage in order to get a brown crispy meat ball.(this step is purely optional.)
• Transfer this baked meat balls to the tomato sauce and give a gentle stir.Add chopped scallions(green onion) and white sesame seeds as garnish.
• Serve with spaghetti or Pasta(best combination)

Method 2 (Indian style)

1. Ground beef or minced beef - 2 cups
2. Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
3. Bread crumbs - 1 cup
4. Dried parsley/basil - 1/2 Tsp
5. Black pepper powder - 1/2 Tsp
6. Garlic - Ginger paste- 1 Tsp
7. Tomatoes - 3 large 
8. Meat masala - 2 Tb sp
9. Garam masala - 1 Tsp
10.  Salt - to taste

• Pressure cook the ground beef in a cooker for 3 whistles with lit turmeric powder,1 Tb sp Meat masala,1/4 Tsp Garam masala,1 Tsp Ginger - Garlic paste and  enough salt.
• In a bowl,mix all the ingredients (cooked meat + things in the list) and knead the meat dough except tomatoes.Keep this aside  for 5 minutes.
• Mean while,prepare tomato sauce,In a pan,add 1 tb sp olive oil,then add tomato puree,lit salt and dried basil leaves.stir it and allow to boil.when it starts boiling,simmer it for 2 minutes and switch off the flame.
• Pre heat the oven to 325 deg F and grease a cookie tray with olive oil.(Use aluminium foil for easy cleaning).
• Using an Ice cream scoop,scoop out the kneaded meat and make balls.(Apply olive oil to your palms for easy handling).
• Keep the meat balls in pre greased cooking tray and bake it for 15- 20 minutes.
• Last 2 minutes,keep the oven temp to broil stage in order to get a brown crispy meat ball.(this step is purely optional.)
• Transfer this baked meat balls to the tomato sauce and give a gentle stir.Add chopped scallions(green onion) and white sesame seeds as garnish.
• Serve with spaghetti or Pasta(best combination).Also you can serve with any rice/bread dishes.

Pictures

                                            Ground beef available in stores(super soft and can easily make recipes like burger patties,sandwich and meat balls.)

                                           Cooked meat + cheese + all masalas 

                                                         Baking for 15 min

                                                     Good crispy goodies

                                                delicious,fully cooked 

Have a nice weekend

Eid Mubarak to all those who are celebrating.

Notes

• You can use minced meat(meat pieces crushed in mixxie) same like we do for cutlet.
• You can use any type of meat(chicken,turkey,pork) with difft types of sauces(fruit or veg flavor)
• This way you can bake cutlets in oven.Next time i'll try and let you know.

Kottayam Kitchen