Meatball and Edam pasta bake
Average rating:
This cheesy meatball pasta bake makes a great midweek family meal - the kids will love the Edam and just serve with salad.
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Prep time: 20 mins
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Cooking time: 30 mins
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Serves: 4
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Costs: Cheap as chips
Ingredients
You can add any other vegetables that you have in the fridge to the pasta to finish them off, like courgettes or aubergines
- 2tbsp(30ml) olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 450g (1lb) lean minced beef
- 150g (5oz) Dutch Edam wedge, cut into small cubes
- 1tsp dried oregano
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips
- 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into thin strips
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 1tsp sugar
- 300g (10½ oz) dried rigatoni or penne pasta
- 60ml (4tbsp) freshly shredded basil
- 1 x 200g tub low-fat crème fraîche
- Crisp green salad, to serve
Method
- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion and garlic. Cover and sweat the onions over a medium heat for 4 mins, until softened. Transfer half the onions to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the minced beef, 50g (2oz) of the Edam, oregano and egg to the onions in the bowl. Season well, then mix together. Shape into 20 small meatballs.
- Add the peppers and meatballs to the onions in the pan and cook for 4-5 mins, until the meatballs are lightly browned all over. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and sugar. Season and bring to the boil. Partially cover with a lid and simmer gently for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to pack instructions. Drain well and return to the pan to keep warm.
- Stir 3tbsp of the basil into the tomato sauce, then stir in the drained pasta. Transfer to an ovenproof dish. Mix together the remaining Edam and basil with the crème fraîche and spoon over the pasta and meatballs. Cook under a preheated moderate grill for 6-7 mins until golden and bubbling.
Nutritional information
Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.
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