Cheesy Meatballs In Spicy Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 slices bacon, chopped
• 500 g beef mince
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 125 g cheddar cheese, cut into 1cm cubes
• 2 (400 g) cans diced roma tomatoes
• 1/2 cup roughly torn basil leaves
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 small red fresh chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, extra, to taste
• crusty bread or roll, to serve

Recipe

• 1 cook the onion and bacon in a large bowl on high for 3-4 minutes approx 850w. remove from microwave, add mince, breadcrumbs, parsley, egg, salt and pepper and mix well.
• 2 take 1 tablespoon of the mixture and flatten into a patty shape.
• 3 place a cube of cheese in the middle of the meat, fold meat to enclose cheese and roll to form a ball.
• 4 refrigerate meatballs for 10-15 minutes.
• 5 place meatballs in a 3 litre casserole dish. cook uncovered on medium to high approx 650w for 4-6 minutes. turn meatballs over and cook for a further 4-6 minutes.
• 6 meanwhile combine the tomatoes, basil, tomato paste, chilli, garlic and salt and pepper in a bowl.
• 7 drain any excess fat from meatballs after cooking and pour the tomato mixture over par cooked and drained meatballs.
• 8 cook uncovered on medium high approx 650w for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 9 serve with on their own with crusty bread or over pasta.