Looking for cooking and baking together? Why not make some meat balls! Some delicious meat balls in a yummy sauce! We will be baking the balls instead of frying them. So it will be really good as the balls will not have any oil!
In the sauce, I will be using an aromatic bay leaf whose aroma will fill the whole kitchen. It’s watering my mouth! I am sure yours too! So what are we waiting for? Let’s start making!
I will be using beef to make my meat balls. You can also use mutton, pork, chicken, whatever you like!
INGREDIENTS FOR BALLS:
Ground beef Half kg or 1 lb
Bread crumbs Half cup
Milk ¼ cup
Salt ½ teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon
Black pepper ¼ teaspoon
Small onion 1, finely chopped (equals 1/4 cup)
Egg 1, well beaten
INGREDIENTS FOR SAUCE:
Onion ¾ cup (chopped)
Garlic cloves 5 (peeled and crushed)
Olive oil ¼ cup
Tomatoes 3 to 4 (peeled and finely chopped)
Salt As required
White sugar 1 teaspoon
Bay leaves 1
Black pepper ½ teaspoon
Tomato paste 1 cup
METHOD FOR BAKING MEAT BALLS:
- To make meat balls first, pre-heat the oven at 400 F (for ten minutes)
- In a bowl, put ground meat, bread crumbs, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper and onion. Mix well.
- A hard dough will get formed.
- Make medium sized balls about 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter with this dough.
- Grease the baking tray with a little oil.
- Place the balls in the tray and bake for about 20 minutes.
METHOD FOR COOKING THE SAUCE:
- Let them get baked, let’s make our sauce till then.
- Put olive oil in a sauce pan. Add chopped onion. Let it become golden brown.
- Add crushed garlic cloves and cook for a minute.
- Add tomatoes and cook till they become tender.
- Finally add salt, sugar, bay leaf, pepper and tomato paste and cook for a while.
TIME TO PUT THEM TOGETHER!
- Take out the baked meat balls and add them to this hot sauce.
- They are ready to be served with boiled rice or spaghetti.
Tip: Make sure you add salt to taste and a few mint leaves while boiling rice or spaghetti for a better taste!
If the dough you are making becomes much hard, do not panic, beat another egg and add a little quantity to the dough. Check it whether it is fine. If not, add some more egg. It will be fine then.
BENEFITS OF BAY LEAVES:
Since I have used a bay leaf in the sauce, I would like to discuss a few benefits.
- It’s an aromatic spice and adds flavor to the dish.
- It is rich in Vitamin A, Folic acid, Vitamin B and a source of minerals too!
- Use it, enjoy the flavor and the benefits too!
