Basil Meatball Pasta

Posted May 5th, 2011 in Food No Comments »

The basil we sow about few months ago is growing big now!

I had a pack of beef mince in the freezer, so I decided to make meatballs using the basil leaves.

I chopped up the leaves finely and added to the meatballs along with onions.  Although I like meatballs with half pork half beef, this time it’s 100% beef.  It was still good, the delicious sizzling smell hit my nose as soon as I started grilling the meatballs.

Fresh basil is so great for tomato based sauce.

I added about 15 leaves to the mince, but I could add more, actually. I was bit stingy!

<Basil Meatballs>

• 300g beef mince
• 15 (or more) basil leaves
• 1 onion (large)
• 1/2 celery stalk
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 450g chopped tomato (tin)
• 3 garlic cloves

a

1. Chop up the onion and celery finely.  Place half of the onion into a mixing bowl with beef mince.
2. Chop up basil leaves.  Add to the bowl.  Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
3. Slice garlic thinly.  Heat 1 table spoon of olive oil in a sauce pan, and fry garlic until fragrant.  Add the rest of the onion and the celery to the pan, and saute for about 3 minutes.
4. Add tomato paste, and fry for few minutes, then add chopped tomatoes.  Simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat 1 table spoon of olive oil in a frying pan.  Shape the mince mixture into little balls, and place onto the frying pan.  Grill over medium-high heat until the bottom is coloured, then flip it around.  Turn down the heat and cook further 3 minutes.
6. Pour the tomato sauce into the frying pan over the meatballs.  Simmer for few minutes.
7. Enjoy with pasta or bread!  

---