This one’s for cold nights and warm bellies
After last week’s hearty Bolognese, we’re keeping the hits coming with another classic – but with a twist. Think meatballs... but with cinnamon, turmeric, and golden raisins. Yep – we’re leaning Middle Eastern this week, and it’s working.
This bowl is full of warmth and depth, and it’s way easier to pull off than last week’s slow-cooked bog. The meatballs are simmered gently in a spiced tomato sauce, tossed with fresh pappardelle, and topped with a crunchy pangrattato made from the same herby panko mix used in the meatballs. Less waste, more flavour, total win!
The recipe
Spiced Meatballs with Pappardelle
- Serves
- 4
- Time
- 1 hr 15 mins
Ingredients
- 1 bunch coriander
- 1 bunch dill or parsley
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 large onion
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1½ tsp garam masala (or baharat/hawaij)
- 1½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp salt
- ⅓ cup golden raisins or currants
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 450 gram pappardelle
- 1 egg
- 450 gram ground beef
Method
- 1.Start the Sauce
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Finely chop the onion. Sauté in 3 tbsp butter with cinnamon stick, red pepper flakes, and salt until softened (5–6 mins).
- Add crushed tomatoes and vinegar. Cover and bake for 20 mins.
- 2. Make the Meatballs
- In a bowl: whisk egg + 2 tbsp olive oil.
- Add panko, garam masala, turmeric, salt, raisins, grated garlic. Mix.
- Chop most of the herbs (save some for garnish) and add in.
- Reserve ¾ cup of the mixture for pangrattato – toast in oven (9–14 mins) until golden.
- Mix ground beef into remaining panko mix. Form into 8 meatballs.
- 3. Cook & Assemble
- Remove sauce from oven, add ½ cup water.
- Nestle meatballs into the sauce, cover loosely, and bake 12–16 mins.
- Cook pasta until just al dente.
- Add pasta + 1 tbsp butter to sauce, toss gently. Use pasta water to adjust consistency.
- 4. Serve
- Plate pasta, top with meatballs, sprinkle with pangrattato and fresh herbs.
- Eat immediately, sip wine slowly, and enjoy the ride.
PappardelleTomatoMeatSpicy