Rigatoni Pasta with Meatballs

Today Sabrina, my 13 year old daughter was in a cooking mood. She doesn't like to chop onions & chillies but today she did it all by herself without any help. Well baby you did a great job, it really tasted YUMMILICIOUS.

Here is the recipe for all you guys who love pasta.


For Meatballs :

250 gm mince meat
2 tbsp bread crumbs
1 large egg-lightly beaten
1 small onion chopped finely
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1/4 tsp red chilli powder

For the Sauce :

2-3 tbsp butter or oil
2 medium tomatoes (blanched, then peeled and chopped)
1 onion chopped finely
3-4 garlic flakes chopped finely
1 tsp cumin seeds crushed coarsely
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1 1/4 cups water (250 ml)
4-5 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
some chopped basil or coriander

For Pasta

3 cups Ragitoni pasta (200 gms) or any pasta of your choice. (Penne, macaroni, sphagetti)
2 tsp salt
6 cups of water


To prepare the meatballs, wash the mince and place it in strainer to strain the excess water. Put the mince and all the other ingredients for the meatballs in a
processor and blend till smooth. Now shape them into small walnut size balls. Keep
it aside in the fridge.

To blanch tomatoes for the sauce, put 1 cup of water in a pan. Add the tomatoes &
boil for 3-4 minutes. Drain from water. Remove the skin and chop finely. keep it
aside.

For the sauce, heat the oil in a pan. Add onions and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes till soft & translucent. Add the garlic & stir fry for another minute. Add
the balnched chopped tomatoes, cumin seeds, salt, oregano and chilli powder. Stir
it well. Add 11/2 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Add the meatballs to the sauce. Now lower the flame & simmer it for 20 minutes
till its cooked.

Add the tomato paste, ketchup and chopped basil or coriander. Remove from heat &
keep it aside.

To cook the pasta boil 5 cups of water with 2 tsp of salt. Add the pasta & cook it
for 15-20 minutes till the pasta is tender. Drain the pasta and refresh it with
cold water to remove all the starch. Strain and directly the pasta to the cooked
tomato sauce. Garnish it with grated cheese (optional) & chopped basil or
coriander.

ENJOY this YUMMMY treat.