Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed, optional
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 celery stick, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 500g mince (beef, pork or chicken)
• half cup fresh breadcrumbs-
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 25g grated parmesan plus extra to finish
• half teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Mainland grated mozzarella
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves or 2 teaspoons dried

*To save time, substitute the homemade sauce with your favourite Italian style, store bought sauce. You will need about 400g and heat it before pouring over the meatballs.

Method

1. To make the sauce, heat the oil in an medium saucepan and cook the onion, garlic, carrot and celery with a sprinkle of salt, over a medium/ low heat for 15 minutes, until very soft .
2. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for a minute, then stir in the tomatoes and quarter of a can of water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
3. To make the meatballs, heat the oven to 200C fan bake. Grease a 26-28cm oven proof frying pan/ skillet or baking dish with olive oil.
4. In a bowl, mix the mince, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, parmesan, salt and season to taste with black pepper, then mix together well.
5. Rub some olive oil onto your hands and shape into rough golf ball sized balls, giving you 12-14 meatballs, then set aside .
6. Heat the prepared dish in the oven for about 3 minutes then add the meatballs and cook for 10
7. minutes. Remove from the oven, pour over the hot sauce then sprinkle with mozzarella and oregano and cooked to golden, about 10 minutes.
8. Finish with more parmesan and serve with with your choice of pasta, rice, mash or bread.