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Fontina-Stuffed Meatballs With Marinara

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Fontina cheese is a semi soft cheese which originates from northern Italy. This cheese melts easily and makes a perfect soft centre surprise in each meatball.The oven baked meatballs are lastly simmered for five minutes in the light marinara sauce and garnished with lashings of fresh basil some great all round flavors you just can’t get enough of.

Recipe

PRE TIME: 40 min

COOKING TIME: 30 min

TOTAL TIME: 1 hr 10 min

6 SERVING

Ingredients:

Meatball
1 cup Breadcrumbs
2 ea. Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Ricotta
1 lb. Ground beef
1 lb. Ground pork
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Black pepper
1/4 cup Fresh basil, sliced
Filling
1 # Fontina cheese, 1/2" cubes
Garlic oil
6 small Shallot, minced
1 cup Garlic cloves, minced
1 cup Virgin olive oil
Pasta
2 qt. Water
1 bu. Pasta
Tomato Sauce
3 tbsp. Garlic oil
2 cans Diced tomatoes (30oz)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1/4 cup Fresh basil, minced
Garnish
1 tsp. Parmesan

Directions:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C.

Step 2 【Garlic oil】

Saute garlic and shallots in olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Step 3 【Meatball】

In a small food processor, pulse breadcrumbs until fine. Add ricotta and eggs, process into a paste. In a large bowl, add the remaining meatball ingredients, breadcrumb paste and 3 tbsp of garlic oil. Mix by hand until the meat is slightly "fuzzy" about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Using a 1in ice cream scoop, portion the meatballs on a tray. Lightly oil your hands and roll a piece of fontina into the middle of the balls and round out the outside so no cheese is exposed. Place in oven for 10 minutes, turning halfway.

Step 5

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add the pasta to the water, stir a few times to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

Step 6 【Tomato Sauce】

Add garlic oil to the pot over medium heat, when it's golden brown (2 minutes) add the canned tomatoes. Once at a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper, add cooked meatballs and cook 5 more minutes. Add fresh basil at the end.

Step 7

Enjoy!