I have pasta, I have meat balls...
I have pasta, I have meat balls...
Author
Discussion

Odie

Original Poster:

4,187 posts

210 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
But what very simple (and cheap) recipes do you guys suggest for sauces to go with them?

A few rules - cheap, no more than around 4 ingredients (not including seasoning), create as few pots & dishes as possible to wash up.

dmitsi

3,583 posts

248 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
Make a ragu. Fine chop some onions, celery, carrots, fry them up and then add the meatballs, but break them up and add seasoning and tomatos. Cook for as long as you can 30 minutes minimum. Over an hour if you have time.

21TonyK

13,227 posts

237 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
One pan, one board, one knife.

Chop and sweat down some onion and a bit of garlic. Add a tin of tomatoes and some dried/fresh herbs and a blob of tomato paste. Pinch of sugar, salt and pepper.

Thats about as simple as I would dare.

Minel

479 posts

201 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
dmitsi said:
Make a ragu. Fine chop some onions, celery, carrots, fry them up and then add the meatballs, but break them up and add seasoning and tomatos. Cook for as long as you can 30 minutes minimum. Over an hour if you have time.
exactly. Pasta and meatballs doesn't REALLY exist as an Italian pasta recipe, I bet it was "invented" in the US... like that hideous THICK base pizza with tons of cheese on it, WTF? biggrin

Ragu' is pretty much as far as one goes with easy to make recipes for a nice meat sauce on pasta....

Odie

Original Poster:

4,187 posts

210 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
Minel said:
exactly. Pasta and meatballs doesn't REALLY exist as an Italian pasta recipe, I bet it was "invented" in the US... like that hideous THICK base pizza with tons of cheese on it, WTF? biggrin

Ragu' is pretty much as far as one goes with easy to make recipes for a nice meat sauce on pasta....

No mention of italian in my op so fill ya boots, would love to hear some other sauce recipes (swedish, finnish, chinese, afghan, polish etc) feel free to suggest alternatives to pasta, (rice, new potatoes perhaps)

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Minel

479 posts

201 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
damn you all pasta ruiners! :P

We invented the thing (ish, chinese got there first but made of rice flour if I'm not mistaken) so no bdisation allowed!!! biggrin

SHutchinson

2,329 posts

212 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
Put oil in pan.
Put chopped garlic in pan.
Turn heat on.
When you can smell lovely warm garlic put some chopped onions in the pan.
Sweat them down until they're done.
(If using dried) Add some Italian sounding herbs.
Turn the heat up so the pan gets hot.
Before the onions/garlic start to burn deglaze the pan with a tablespoon or two of Red wine vinegar.
Once vinegar has cooked down add a tin of chopped tomatoes.
Cook for a while.
Add a pinch or two of cinnamon.
(if using fresh) Add some Italian sounding herbs.
Season to taste.
Cook pasta in salted water with a small glug of oil.
Drain pasta keeping about half a cup of the water.
Pour the reserved cup of pasta cooking water into tomato sauce.
Pour drained pasta into the sauce.
Stir.
If you have some, use a potato peeler to liberally apply some 'peeled' parmesan over the top.
Drizzle with a few spots of oil.
Serve.




If you want to use the meatballs you could roast them in a casserole dish in the oven. When they're done tip them (plus the tasty oily gunk) into the sauce.

That's what I would do.

Mr Roper

14,223 posts

222 months

Monday 7th March 2011
quotequote all
Odie said:
But what very simple (and cheap) recipes do you guys suggest for sauces to go with them?

A few rules - cheap, no more than around 4 ingredients (not including seasoning), create as few pots & dishes as possible to wash up.
Scrap the pasta...

Buy baguette and a tin on Stag hot chilli.

Cook meatballs
Add to (buttered) baguette
Apply chilli to balls
Kitchen towel to clean