Here’s a recipe for delicious and cheesy pasta with meatballs, prepared in an Irish-inspired way:
-Ingredients:
500g pasta (your choice, like penne or spaghetti)
500g ground beef (for the meatballs)
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
200g grated cheddar cheese (or Irish cheese like Kerrygold)
200g grated mozzarella cheese
2 cups tomato sauce (store-bought or homemade)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
-Method:
1. Preparing the Meatballs:
In a bowl, mix the ground beef with chopped onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, thyme, and coriander.
Form the mixture into medium-sized meatballs.
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs and gently turn them until browned on all sides and fully cooked. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
2. Cooking the Pasta:
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Preparing the Sauce:
In the same pan where the meatballs were browned, add the butter and let it melt. Then add the tomato sauce and stir well until it heats and slightly simmers.
Add half of the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses to the sauce and stir until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes creamy.
4. Mixing the Pasta and Meatballs:
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce and mix well until the pasta is fully coated.
Gently fold in the meatballs.
5. Adding the Cheese:
Before serving, sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese on top and let it melt naturally from the dish’s heat. You can also place the dish in the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese melts completely and turns golden.
6. Serving:
Serve the cheesy pasta with meatballs hot, garnished with chopped parsley for extra flavor.
-Secret to the Taste:
Using butter with olive oil in the sauce gives the dish a rich flavor.
Adding two types of cheese (cheddar and mozzarella) gives it a creamy and light taste that both adults and kids will love.
This pasta with meatballs and cheese is perfect for a delicious and light dinner at home!
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