Tuscan meatballs

The Tuscan meatballs disappear under a thick layer of cheese, bubbling in the oven as if they were secretly celebrating a cheese festival. Kitty peers inside, sees everything melting golden brown, and wonders if this is still food or already a love letter to cheese. She takes out the casserole dish, takes a deep sniff, and thinks: I just wanted to bake it – now I have a cheese masterpiece with a meatball filling.

---

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 500 g mixed minced meat

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

• 1 soaked bread roll

• 1 garlic clove

• 1/2 onion, finely chopped

• 1 tsp mustard

• 1 tsp sweet paprika powder

• 1 tsp paprika powder, hot

For the sauce:

• 400 g canned chopped tomatoes

• 100 g tomato paste

• 1/2 onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 tsp vegetable stock powder

• 1 tsp rosemary

• 1 tsp marjoram

• 1 tsp thyme

• 1 tsp oregano

• 1 bay leaf

• 200 ml whipped cream

• 150 ml milk

• 50 g sour cream

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

Also: 200 g grated mozzarella

preparation

Preparing the meatballs:

1. Squeeze the soaked bread well and place it in a large bowl.

2. Add minced meat, salt, pepper, finely chopped onion, crushed garlic, mustard, sweet paprika and hot paprika.

3. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and form small meatballs.

Preparation of the sauce:

1. Sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in a pan until soft.

2. Add tomato paste and sauté briefly.

3. Stir in chopped canned tomatoes, vegetable stock powder, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, oregano and the bay leaf.

4. Add the whipped cream, milk and sour cream, stir and let the sauce simmer over low heat.

5. Season with salt and pepper.

Completion:

1. Place the meatballs in a prepared baking dish.

2. Pour the prepared sauce over the meatballs.

3. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella over the sauce.

4. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven at 175°C for about 40 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and the cheese is melted golden brown.

Remove the Toscana meatballs from the oven and serve hot. Serve with pasta, rice, or fresh baguette.

Bon appetit!

---

Recipe for: 4 people

Preparation time: approx. 20 minutes

Cooking time: approx. 25 minutes

Baking time: approx. 40 minutes

Total duration: approx. 1 hour and 25 minutes

---