Meatballs in Tomato Sauce Recipe

Ingredients : Serves 4

4 juniper berries, crushed
100 g/4 oz/2 cups wholemeal breadcrumbs
30 ml/2 tbsp chopped parsley
4 prunes, soaked, drained and chopped

450 g/1 lb minced (ground) beef

2.5 ml/0.5 tsp grated nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

30 ml/2 tbsp oil
400 g/14 oz/1 large can of tomatoes, chopped
3 basil sprigs, chopped
5 ml/1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

15 ml/1 tbsp dry sherry
15 ml/1 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour

50 g/2 oz/0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Pasta, to serve

Method :

Mix together the berries, bread-crumbs, parsley, prunes, beef and nutmeg, bind together with the egg and season to taste. Make the mixture into 16 balls and place them in an ovenproof dish. Mix together the oil, tomatoes, basil, Worcestershire sauce, sherry and flour by hand or in a blender until smooth. Pour the mixture over the meatballs and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve with pasta.