Well, it is a sacrilege to call minced chicken balls, "meatballs". But hey, these are trying times. With the lockdown and COVID 19 cases on the rise, the least we can do is make the best use of available resources. So when the craving struck and ordering home delivery is not an option I want to choose the next best option is to try and make the best of available ingredients. I had some minced chicken in my freezer. I did not have any other minced meat. Although, if you do have any kind of red meat- mutton, lamb, pork, or even beef, I would suggest using that. In fact, a mix of two or more of these meats adds more definition and flavor to the recipe.
Anyhoo, since I did not have anything else handy, I used minced chicken, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised and happy with the results.
Ingredients for Meatballs:
200 gms minced meat, I used chicken
1 tsp pepper, freshly ground
A pinch of cumin powder
A pinch of paprika powder
A pinch of fennel seeds
Salt, to taste
A few fresh basil leaves, break into small leaves
1/2 tsp mix dry herbs
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp Dijon Mustard/Kasundi
1 egg, white only
1 tbsp bread crumbs
Oil for frying
Method:
Mix all of the ingredients and form into small balls. I made ten decent sized balls. Leave it in the fridge for about 20 mins (or more) to set. Heat oil in a pan and fry till golden.
(Make into Balls and put it in the fridge for some time)
(Fry till golden. Since I am using chicken, so the colour is slightly less brown. But red meat will give a more rich brown colour)
Ingredients for Sauce:
1/2 cup Carrot, diced
1/2 cup Onion, diced
1/2 cup Celery, diced (optional but advised, I did not have in my pantry)
1 tbsp garlic cut into small pieces
1/4 cup minced chicken (or any other meat)
2 Tomatoes, blended into a paste
1 tsp ground pepper
A bunch of fresh Basil
Chicken/Veg Stock/Broth (Optional), I did not use
1.5 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp cheddar cheese
Method:
Dice the carrots, onion & if using the celery as shown in the pictures below
Heat oil in a pan and put the garlic first. Once the garlic is fried and a nice aroma wafts, add the diced vegetables. Lower the flame and keep cooking till the vegetables are almost transparent. The onion and the carrot might stick to the bottom of the pan, just sprinkle a little water, and keep caramelizing the same till it is properly done. Add salt to taste. This mix of onions and vegetables to form the base of a meat sauce is called sofrito. If using broth, the salt should be added accordingly. The mix should almost turn saucy. Once the vegetables are properly cooked, add the minced chicken and cook for a few more mins. It should take about 4-5 minutes. Then add the tomato paste. If using store-bought puree, you might want to add some sugar after checking the tang.
After adding the tomato paste fry for some time, till the tomato is incorporated with the rest of the ingredients into a nice saucy mix. You might want to add a little broth or water at this stage. Check the thickness of the sauce, and adjust is as per your liking.
Add the meat/chicken balls at this stage and cook for some time. Add the pepper powder and cheddar cheese. Once the sauce reaches a nice consistency and color check for salt and adjust. Once done, the Meatball sauce will look like the picture below.
Vegeterian Substitute:
In case of a veg recipe, use a mix of cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, and breadcrumbs along with the rest of the spices. Pulse in a blender. You have the option of using or not using the eggs. Mix it with a little splash of water. Keep adding water little by little, form into balls, and then proceed as per the recipe above.
This base sauce also forms the recipe for the Bolognese/Bologna Pasta.
For the Spaghetti:
Pasta/Spaghetti, as per needed
1 spring onion
A few cloves of garlic, crushed
Salt, to taste
Olive oil, as needed
Meanwhile, start working on the pasta. Boil water, add salt and cook the pasta till almost done as per instructions on the packet.
Once the pasta is boiled, strain the water. Run cold water, so the pasta does not stick to each other. Heat oil in a pan/wok. Add the crushed garlic, then add the spring onions. Brown them, since this will flavor the pasta. Then add the pasta and salt. Mix it properly. Serve in a plate. Top it with the meatball sauce.
Garnish with some Parmesan Cheese. If not, you can top it with Cheddar too. I ran out of Parmesan and topped with a sprinkling of Cheddar.
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