This recipe has a twist on the classic meatballs in tomato sauce, by placing a chunk of mozzarella inside each one. Be sure to use buffalo mozzarella to make this a *dairy free recipe (many cheaper mozzarellas are made with cows milk which are great for this recipe if you are not dairy intolerant). It’s a really quick and easy recipe that can be thrown together at the last minute or prepared in advance. The simple tomato sauce can even be used on it’s own with pasta and a sprinkling of grated cheese if you haven’t got time for the meatballs! This recipe is one of our family favourites that we all enjoy together. The following makes enough for a hungry family of five:

Ingredients:

• 500g beef mince
• 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
• 2 large cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tsp mixed herbs
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 ball mozzarella, chopped into approx 1.5cm cubes
• Spaghetti

Method:

• Gently fry off the onions until translucent, then add the garlic and keep stirring for 2 minutes or so (do not allow it to colour)

• Place 1/2 the onion and garlic mixture into a bowl and allow to cool
• Add the mince and 1 tsp mixed herbs, mix together (with your hands is best)

• Add the egg and combine
• Take a golf ball size amount of mince and flatten it into your hand
• Place a chunk of mozzarella onto it and wrap the mince around to form a ball (size doesn’t really matter so long as the cheese is completely surrounded)

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• Place the meatballs on a plate, cover with clingfilm and refrigerate to allow the balls to firm up, while making the sauce (if you can make the meatballs in advance and refrigerate for longer, there is less risk of them crumbling in the pan.

• Add the tomatoes and tsp of herbs to the remaining onion and garlic and allow to warm through on a low heat

• Preheat the oven to 180C
• Heat a little oil in a large oven proof frying pan (you can transfer the balls to a different dish for the oven if your frying pan has a plastic handle)
• Fry off the meatballs allowing each side to brown- we want crispy bits!

• Place in the oven for 8mins to cook through (time will vary depending on the size of the balls so please check they are piping hot and cooked through before serving)
• While they are in the oven, cook your spaghetti
• Serve the spaghetti with one or two meatballs per child or three for an adult, spoon the sauce over the meatballs and serve

Enjoy!!

*mozzarella is low in lactose so most people who can’t tolerate dairy, can eat it, this is the same as with goat and sheep product alternatives

Previous recipes: Gluten & Dairy Free Mini Fish Pies, Toad in the Hole with a Twist, Pop Chicken Nuggets, Chicken ‘Kinda’ Kiev  Crunchy Salmon Fishcakes, The Best Bolognese, Quick Spinach and Watercress Soup, Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake, Easy Bacon and Monkfish Risotto, Hake in a Cheesy Sauce, Roasted Vegetable Pasta Sauce, Chinese Salmon, Chorizo and veg pasta & Homemade fish (or chicken) fingers.

Click here for more quick, cheap and healthy dinner ideas and follow my blog for regular Kids Tea Tuesdays! xx