Slow-Cooked Pork and Beef Meatballs

Name: Slow-Cooked Pork and Beef Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 200 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: {'group': 'Main', 'item': '250g pork mince'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': '250g beef mince'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': '2 garlic cloves, crushed'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': '1 egg'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': 'small handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': '2 slices of bread, crusts discarded, torn into small pieces'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': 'whole milk, enough to soak bread'}; {'group': 'Main', 'item': 'salt and black pepper'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '2x 400g cans of plum tomatoes'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '1 tbsp tomato purée'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '6 garlic cloves, crushed'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': 'small handful of basil, a few leaves reserved'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '2 tbsp olive oil'}; {'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '½ tsp white sugar, if needed'}; {'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'spaghetti, cooked to packet instructions'}; {'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'grated parmesan'}; {'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'green salad'}

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Indulge in the rich flavors of slow-cooked pork and beef meatballs, infused with garlic for a savory twist. Perfect for cozy family dinners or meal prep!

3 hours Serves 4 Medium Italian

Ingredients

Metric Imperial

{'group': 'Main', 'item': '250g pork mince'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': '250g beef mince'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': '2 garlic cloves, crushed'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': '1 egg'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': 'small handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': '2 slices of bread, crusts discarded, torn into small pieces'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': 'whole milk, enough to soak bread'}
{'group': 'Main', 'item': 'salt and black pepper'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '2x 400g cans of plum tomatoes'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '1 tbsp tomato purée'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '6 garlic cloves, crushed'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': 'small handful of basil, a few leaves reserved'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '2 tbsp olive oil'}
{'group': 'Sauce', 'item': '½ tsp white sugar, if needed'}
{'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'spaghetti, cooked to packet instructions'}
{'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'grated parmesan'}
{'group': 'For Serving', 'item': 'green salad'}

Preparation

Soak the bread pieces in enough milk to cover them in a small bowl for about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the pork mince, beef mince, 2 crushed garlic cloves, egg, and parsley.
Season generously with salt and pepper.
Squeeze out excess milk from the bread and add it to the meat mixture.
Mix thoroughly using your hands until well combined.

Cooking

Shape the mixture into 12-16 meatballs and place them on a plate.
Chill in the fridge while preparing the sauce.
In the slow cooker, combine the plum tomatoes, squishing them as they go in, with tomato purée, 6 crushed garlic cloves, basil, olive oil, and 1 tsp each of salt and pepper.
Cook on high for 2 hours until the sauce is glossy and fragrant.
Adjust seasoning with sugar if needed.
Add the meatballs to the sauce, reshaping them gently, and cook on high for an additional hour until tender.

Plating & Serving

Serve the meatballs over cooked spaghetti, topped with grated parmesan and reserved basil leaves.
Accompany with a green salad.

Notes

For a Mediterranean twist, consider adding anchovies, black olives, and roasted red peppers to the sauce. Meatballs can be frozen raw for up to 6 months.