Meatballs alla norma - jamie oliver revipe

Recipe: Meatballs Alla Norma

I figure by now that we’re friends, right?!  So I guess that means it’s time you learnt two big things about me…

  1. I really, really, dislike tomato based sauces.
  2. I’m married to a man who loves them.

I know.  I feel the same way too.  HOW did we end up married?!  But put your fears for our marital bliss to on hold for a moment because… drumroll please… I may have found the sauce to change my mind.

Meatballs Alla Norma combines some of my absolute favourite ingredients; sweet chilli sauce, fennel and balsamic vinegar, masking the tomatoey-ness of the sauce with a sweet and sour tang.  I’m also a relatively recent convert to the world of aubergine having avoided it for years and then dived in to having it bi-weekly of late – I love it.  This meal is healthy, quick and requires relatively few ingredients beyond your basic store cupboard essentials so you can whip it up on the fly and serve it smug in the knowledge it’s good for you.

Introducing Jamie Oliver’s ‘Meatballs Alla Norma’.

Meatballs alla norma - jamie oliver revipe

 

Meatballs Alla Norma

Feeds 4

You will need:

For the meatballs

  • 400-500g of lean beef mince
  • 2 tablespoons of fennel
  • Handful of fresh parsley

For the sauce

  • 1 large aubergine/eggplant
  • 1 tin of chopped tomatoes in sauce
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Salt

To serve (optional)

  • Pasta for 4
  • Grated parmesan

Recipe:

  1. Chop the aubergine into chunks approximately 1.5cm (1/2 inch) wide.  Place into a large bowl and salt over-liberally.  Place to one side for 15 minutes
  2. Chop the parsley, stalks and all.  Using your hands, mix the parsley into the mince, breaking up the mince in the process
  3. Divide the mince into half and in half again and use each section to make roughly five equally sized balls.  Roll the balls between your hands to ensure they are compacted and round (!)
  4. Spread the fennel seeds over a plate and roll the meatballs over the fennel seeds, allowing them to be lightly covered.  Place the completed balls into a bowl and put in the fridge to firm
  5. Squeezing out any excess liquid as you go, transfer the aubergine into a pan with a splash of olive oil.  Cook over a low heat until golden
  6. Once golden, add the sweet chilli sauce, balsamic vinegar, chopped garlic and tomatoes along with a small splash of water and allow to simmer and thicken whilst you cook the meatballs.  You may need to stir in some additional water if you feel the sauce gets too thick
  7. Fry off the meatballs in a separate pan, taking care to constantly move them so as not to let them burn.  This should take around ten minutes. (At this point you might want to put on your pasta!) Do not despair, you will lose some fennel seeds along the way but they can be added back in later to the sauce if you wish.

Serve on a bed of pasta, with a generous dollop of sauce, a handful of balls and a grating of parmesan if the mood takes you.  Or for any veggies out there, it’s completely suitable to make it without the meatballs and quicker too!

Completely and utterly divine.  There may be hope for our marriage yet..

Recipe Meatballs Alla Norma. Quick and simple pasta dish by Jamie Oliver

7 Comments

  • Tracey 6th November 2016 at 10:15 am

    I have to admit I never make meatballs, I buy them as balls and add the sauce but these look really easy to do! I may give them a try 🙂 #KCACOLS

    • DevonMamaOnline 6th November 2016 at 11:33 am

      I used to do the same (and still do sometimes – or cut sausages into balls!) but there’s something nice about making your own and they do taste better – I think!! Thanks for reading x

  • Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) 6th November 2016 at 8:23 pm

    This sounds great! I don’t mind tomato based sauces, but my other half thinks they should make up every meal… it creates problems! 🙂 #KCACOLS

    • DevonMamaOnline 9th November 2016 at 9:13 pm

      Mines the same! I think that’s why I’ve learnt to hate them!! Let me know if you give it a go, thanks for reading x

  • The Speed Bump 8th November 2016 at 11:46 am

    Ooh that sounds so tasty! I can’t buy meatballs so making my own is necessary and this sounds like a great recipe! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday!

    • DevonMamaOnline 9th November 2016 at 9:15 pm

      It’s really yum, especially if you like fennel mmmm! Thanks for reading x

  • Emma Plus Three 8th November 2016 at 9:01 pm

    Oh yum!! I love meatballs and these sound delicious x #KCACOLS

  • Leave a Reply

    Welcome To Devon Mama!

    I'm Hayley and this is us; working parents to three tiny wild ones. Whether it's travel, food, lifestyle or just a healthy dose of parenting reality, there's something for everyone here. So sit back, get comfy and start scrolling!

    Hayley x

    Never Miss A Moment

    Join 3,669 other subscribers.

    Latest Posts

    Latest Tweets

    TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
    TOTS100
    ×
    %d bloggers like this: