Day 1 | Umami Meatballs Bomba XXX

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This is such a versatile recipe where once you have made up the mix you can shape into meatballs, burgers or meatloaf. This recipe also includes a classic red sauce to cook the meatballs in, to which I add Bomba! XXX and Taste #5 Umami Bomb which add extra deliciousness.

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LEVEL • Easy

SERVES • 6

INGREDIENTS

MEATBALLS

6       tablespoons butter
1       large yellow onion, finely chopped
1       garlic clove, crushed
1.2    lbs lean ground beef
4       strips of bacon, finely chopped
1       parmesan cheese, grated
1       tablespoon Bomba! XXX
2       teaspoons Taste #5 Umami Bomb
1       tablespoon herbes de Provence
4       tablespoons Bomba! XXX
1       large egg
1       cup bread crumbs or 3 slices white bread, processed into bread crumbs
1/4    cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped (can substitute curly if need)
sprig of fresh marjoram, finely chopped or ½ teaspoon dried
splash of red wine
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

SAUCE

2       tablespoons olive oil
1       yellow onion, quartered
1       carrot, roughly chopped
1       celery stalk, roughly chopped
3       garlic cloves
2       tablespoons Bomba! XXX
1       teaspoons Taste #5 Umami Bomb
2       14oz cans of chopped tomatos
large handful of basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

TO SERVE

freshly cooked spaghetti
freshly grated or shaved parmesan

METHOD

1. Melt the butter in a skillet, sauté the onion until soft and just
2. beginning to color
3. Add the splash of red wine and cook for a couple of minutes until
4. the alcohol has evaporated
5. Place all other ingredients into a large mixing bowl, add the cooked onion mixture
6. Use your hands and work together all the ingredients together
7. Form into 2 inch meatballs
8. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator
9. Prepare the sauce while meatballs are chilling
10. Combine onions, carrots, celery and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped
11. Heat olive oil in a large pan and add the minced vegetables
12. Saute the mixture until the onions are soft and translucent
13. Stir in the Bomba XXX, Umami Bomb, canned tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
14. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly for 15 minutes
15. While the sauce simmer, pan fry the meatballs in a small amount of olive oil over medium heat until well browed and just cooked through, about 5-6 minutes
16. Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 15 minutes
17. Serve with al dente spaghetti and parmesan