Pasta and Meatball Bake with Rustic Rolls
Bring warmth and comfort into your home on cold winter nights with Paul Hollywood Ready To Bake Rustic Rolls, and a hearty and comforting pasta bake to enjoy snuggled up indoors.
Serves: 4
Takes: 1 hour
Ingredients
250g good quality minced beef
200g minced pork
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 tbsp milk
1-2 handfuls breadcrumbs
Pinch salt and black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ tsp dried oregano
Good pinch dried chilli flakes
Good splash white wine (optional)
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tin or jar plum tomatoes, chopped
100g grated cheese – a mix of cheddar and mozzarella is good
300g macaroni or other small shape pasta
Few fresh basil leaves
Method
First make the meatballs – put the beef and pork mince, parsley, milk and breadcrumbs in a bowl and season with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Using clean hands, mix together really well then pop in the fridge for half an hour to firm up slightly
Meanwhile make the sauce. Heat a saucepan over a low heat then add the olive oil, butter, garlic, oregano and chilli flakes and cook very gently for 3 minutes. Turn up the heat and add the wine then bubble for a minute. Add the tomato puree and tomatoes then fill the tin with cold water and pour into the sauce. Season with a pinch of salt and a good grind of black pepper then simmer for about 20 minutes
Form the meat mixture into approximately 16 small balls then fry them, turning frequently, for about 6-7 minutes or until just cooked through. Turn off the heat and set aside
Cook the macaroni for 4 minutes less than the pack instructions – it will be a little hard at this stage. Drain and tip into the sauce and stir through. Pour the pasta and sauce into a large ovenproof dish then nestle the meatballs in amongst it and scatter over the cheese
Preheat the oven to 200°C Fan. Put the dish onto a baking tray and cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes, adding the Rustic Rolls to the oven on a separate tray when you have 10 minutes left
Scatter the basil over the pasta bake and serve with a salad or steamed greens, with the rolls on the side for mopping up the sauce