Today I've got a recipe quickie for you.
Initially I didn't to put this on my blog, because spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs certainly isn't exactly what you would call a spectacular recipe, but isn't it nice to see what visual presentation can do?
With a little creativity and attention to detail you can conjure something very nice even from the most simple dishes.
I will admit, that I am susceptible for visual things. When it looks nice, you got me hooked. Sometimes I just buy things, because I like the packaging. Put some bling bling on it and I will whip out my wallet.
And that also applies for food. It's got to be a feast for the eyes. But don't they look yummie?
Ok, i know that even in this form you probably have seen it dozens of times and it is nothing new. But I rejoice in my new camera and the fact that I don't have to take pictures with my smartphone anymore. That's why I am going through the phase of garnishing food on the plate in a much more aesthetic way.
You will have to tough that out. :)
So do me favour and pretend that you are being swept off your feet right now. Thanks!
To be safe, I will still write down the recipe, just in case someone doesn't know it yet.^^
For the spaghetti nests:
200 g of spaghetti
salted water
2 ts olive oil
2 eggs
40 g parmesan, grated
For the meatballs:
200g minced meat
1 small onion
1 egg
salt and pepper
oil
For the tomato sauce
1 can of chopped tomatos
1 tbs tomato paste
1-2 garlice cloves, depending on your taste
Italian herbs, depending on your taste (e.g. oregano, thyme, basil)
1 pinch of sugar
salt and pepper
in addition: a muffin pan and some butter for the molds
Of course you can use your own meatball/tomato sauce recipe, at the end of the day it is all about the presentation :)
And this is how it works..
Cook the spaghetti al dente in salted water.
In the meantime chop the garlic finely and sauté it briefly. Add tomato puree and brown it, deglaze it with chopped tomatoes and allow it to boil down briefly. Season it with spices. Separate 4 tbs of the tomato sauce and another little something of it for the presentation.
Drain the spaghetti, cool them under cold water, add olive oil, mix it up and put it on the side.
Chop the onion finely and thoroughly mix it up with the other ingredients for the meatballs and form 12 balls out of it.
Brown them with hot oil in the pan and roll them in the 4 tbs of tomato sauce which you separated earlier.
Preheat your backing oven with 180°C/350°F upper/lower heat.
Beat the eggs, stir in parmesan and add it along with the tomato sauce to the spaghetti and mix it up firmly.
Grease the muffin pan. Portion the spaghetti appropriately and wind them with a fork into the molds of the muffin pan and create little nests. Place the meatballs in the middle of the nests and bake them in the oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, let them cool down in the muffin pan. Arrange them on the plate with the rest of the remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle parmesan on them.
I wish you lots of fun and as always: stay hungry!
Your Sibel
