The ultimate spaghetti and meatballs

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200g beef mince

200g pork mince

75g parmesan, grated

1 egg, beaten

For the tomato sauce

1 tin plum tomatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

½ onion, peeled

4 cloves of garlic, peeled

Salt, to taste

300g spaghetti

Olive oil, for frying

Makes: Serves 4

Takes: 40 minutes

Bakes: No time at all

  1. Using your hands, mix the two meats together with the parmesan, egg, a little salt and a generous amount of pepper. Form into small balls, about 20-24, place on a tray, and refrigerate to firm up.
  2. Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. Put all the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized pan. Squish the plum tomatoes against the side of the pan with a spatula. Bring up to a gentle simmer, and cook for half an hour to an hour – however long you have. Use a stick blender to blend the sauce with the onion and garlic cloves. Season to taste.
  3. Remove the meatballs from the fridge, and heat a frying pan to medium heat and add a little olive oil. Fry the meatballs until golden-brown on all sides. Pop a lid on the saucepan, lower the heat, and continue cooking the meatballs until completely cooked through.
  4. While the meatballs are cooking through, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
  5. Toss the spaghetti and meatballs through the tomato sauce, and divide between four plates. Grind black pepper and grate a little extra parmesan over the top, and serve immediately.

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