Tuscan slow cooker meatballs
User Reviews
4.6
Tuscan slow cooker meatballs
Description
This recipe blends equal parts ground pork and beef with sautéed red onion and garlic for depth. Sun-dried tomatoes and a mix of fresh basil, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and dried Italian herbs add complex herbaceous notes. Grated Parmesan and fresh breadcrumbs bind the mixture, with eggs to hold it together. The meatballs are formed and placed in a slow cooker with a sauce of canned tomatoes, tomato puree, beef stock, garlic, and herbs.
The slow cooking process softens the meatballs thoroughly and reduces the sauce into a thick, rich accompaniment. The gentle heat lets the flavors steep and intensify. Serve the meatballs over pasta, topped with fresh basil and extra Parmesan for added brightness and savory cheese notes.
Ingredients
- 500g / 1lb ground pork or pork mince
- 500g / 1lb ground beef or beef mince
- 2 red onion chopped and sauteed
- 4 garlic sauteed with onions
- ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 2 tbsp basil fresh, chopped
- 1 tbsp thyme fresh, chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 2 tsp rosemary fresh, chopped
- 2 tsp italian herb blend dried
- ¾ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1 cup breadcrumbs fresh
- 2 egg beaten
- 3 tsp salt or to taste
- 2 tsp black pepper
For the sauce
- 2 g/14 oz canned chopped tomato
- 1 cup tomato puree or passata
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 tbsp italian herb blend dried
- 2 tsp sugar optional
- 3 garlic sliced or crushed
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
to serve
- basil fresh
- Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- To make the sauce, combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker/crock pot.
- To make the meatballs, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Form meatballs and place in the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Switch the slow cooker on high and cook for 3-4 hours or 6-7 hours on low until the meatballs are soft and cooked through and the sauce has reduced a little.
- If the sauce is too watery, simply place the slow cooker lid ajar for the last hour of cooking to allow the sauce to reduce.
- Serve over pasta with fresh basil and Parmesan.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 413 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 413kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 34g | 68% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 133mg | 44% |
| Sodium | 492mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 1005mg | 21% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 289IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 12mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 190mg | 19% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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