Meatball Pasta Gratin with Tomato and Basil

- 500g (17.6 oz) ground meat
- 400g (14.1 oz) meatballs
- 400g (14.1 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 280g (9.9 oz) dried pasta
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 2 medium yellow onions
- 2 vegetable bouillon cubes
- 3 tbsp (45 ml or 1.76 oz) tomato puree
- 1 tsp (5 ml or 0.25 oz) dried oregano
- 1 tsp (5 ml or 0.25 oz) dried basil
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml or 0.25 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml or 0.25 oz) chili flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
1. Preheat your oven to 190°C or 375°F.
2. Cook the dried pasta according to the package instructions until it's al dente, then drain and set it aside.
3. In a large skillet, sauté the diced onions and minced garlic over medium heat until they're softened.
4. Add the ground meat to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
5. Stir in the tomato puree, salt, black pepper, and vegetable bouillon cubes. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
6. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, dried oregano, and dried basil to the skillet. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
7. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat mixture, and chili flakes if you're using them. Mix everything together until it's well combined.
8. Transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish and top it with the meatballs.
9. Bake the gratin in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the meatballs are cooked through.
10. Remove the dish from the oven and garnish it with fresh basil leaves. Serve hot and enjoy!
- mixing bowl
- skillet
- baking dish
- spoon
- oven
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