Any day with meatballs is a happy day. Lovingly rolled, flavour-packed meatballs, baked in the oven until browned and sizzling and served with a rich tomato sauce, piled on top of mountains of tender pappardelle. Everyone around the table chattering and slurping away, oblivious to the tomato splatters on t-shirts and around mouths. Every plate is cleared - guaranteed - with no ‘just one more mouthful and then you’re done’ cajoling. This version is is based on my original Spahgetti and meatballs recipe, with the addition of some creamy, stretchy mozzarella inside each meatball. My kids absolutely love them. My youngest - Lewis - goes especially crazy for them, which is strange really, since he’s not overly enamored with similar dishes like spag bol. I wonder if I could get him to eat other other stuff he’s not keen on in meatball form….
Thai meatballs stuffed with beansprouts and sliced onions (or other veg that looks like ‘worms’)Middle eastern style, like these kofta from Little Sunny KitchenKale, date and matcha energy ‘meat’ balls (green smoothies aren’t his thing, but in ball form? yesss!)Hummus-filled cauliflower dough balls (actually I quite like the sound of that myself!)
This is a great recipe to get the kids involved in. Mushing up the meatball mix is the kind of messy work that kids are made for.You might end up with some meatballs the size of tennis balls, and some the size of marbles, but that’s the charm of letting the kids help out. There’s actually a glass of wine in the sauce, so my suggestion would be to pour yourself a glass, kick off those shoes, and let the kids take control of the meatball making. I mean, how bad could it be? Don’t answer that. I now have visions of Gracey trying to make butterfly shaped meatballs, whilst encouraging her usual partner in crime (the cat) to jump up and eat some straight from the bowl. Lewis in the meantime would probably be catapulting meatballs pellets at the cat, whilst standing there with his hair covered in raw ground mince. Bleurgh. I think I might just make them myself.
More Amazing Meatball Recipes:
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