When you think spaghetti and meatballs you conjure up some juicy flavorsome minced meat in a rich luscious spaghetti sauce. But why not try something different especially in the form of my Italian tuna balls. Replacing meat with tuna gives the dish a whole different dimension with respect to taste and flavor.
This is also an easy dish to put together in a busy midweek rush for we all have a can of tuna rattling around in our cupboards. Since my children love spaghetti and meatballs, they are not too fussed about what the ‘balls’ are made out of.
So these are all pluses in every busy mother’s dinnertime agenda, easy to make and nutritious to eat. Make our Italian favorite a part of your family meal. Ciao!
Ingredients:
A can of tuna
A large potato, boiled and mashed
Zest of a grated lemon
Small handful of chopped parsley
50g breadcrumbs
1 egg beaten
2-3 cloves of garlic
Six tomatoes chopped
Large tablespoon of tomato paste
Method:
Flake the tuna into a bowl, then tip in the mashed potato, lemon zest, parsley, breadcrumbs and egg. Season and mix together with your hands until completely combined. Roll the mix into 12 walnut-size balls.
Heat a little of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, then fry the tuna balls for 5 mins, turning every minute or so until completely golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
In the same pan, fry up the garlic and after a few minutes add the tomatoes. Stir fry for a few minutes and add a cup of water. Add seasoning and let the mixture cook until the tomatoes have broken down. Add a dash of sugar or honey.
Once the sauce has thickened, add the tuna balls and let it soak up all the sauce.
Heap over a nice bowl of cooked spaghetti.
Heaven in a bowl!
By Mayuri Jayasinghe
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