Saucy meatballs and pasta

This is a tasty way to dress up plain old minced beef so it looks rather special.

Ingredients

500 gm minced beef
1 onion
½ cup rolled oats or breadcrumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon soya sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh thyme and parsley ( or 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 can chopped tomatoes or 1 cup tomato based pasta sauce
200 gm dried spaghetti or other dried pasta

Method

1. Chop the onion finely and put into a large bowl with all the other ingredients except the tomatoes and pasta
2. Mix all together well. Use your hands if necessary (Dampen your hands in cold water first to stop the mixture sticking to them)
3. Roll the mixture into small balls about the size of a golf ball
4. Heat a frying pan or large saucepan and add the oil
5. When the pan is hot, add some of the meat balls. Leave enough room to turn them
6. Roll the meat balls around the pan until they are browned all over. This may take 5 minutes or more
7. Repeat until all the meat balls are cooked.
8. Put the spaghetti into a saucepan of boiling water and cook until el dente (approx 5 minutes)
9. Heat the tomatoes or pasta sauce
10. Drain the spaghetti and tip onto a serving platter or onto individual plates
11. Place the meatballs on top of the spaghetti and pour the tomato sauce over the top.

Serve immediately.  Serves 3-4

You can  make this mixture into tiny balls, say the size of a marble, and put them into your child’s lunch box