An easy recipe for pork meatballs in tomato sauce, this meatball dish can be made with leftover meatballs as well.
These pork meatballs in tomato sauce are a very quick meal to put on your table, especially when you are using leftover meatballs.
And if you want to be really quick, then grab a jar of previously made tomato or marinara sauce as well. Or a bought tomato sauce jar, of course, you could use that too, although I always say that homemade tastes better. But exceptions can be made.
The pork meatballs in tomato sauce or chiftelute marinate are another classic Romanian recipe; I think everybody in Romania knows them. My grandmother used to cook them often as well and the dish was always made with leftover meatballs, I honestly believe she never cooked fresh meatballs for this dish.
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How to make pork meatballs in tomato sauce?
Super quick version
- Leftover meatballs + a jar of marinara sauce. Heat the meatballs in the sauce. Serve.
From scratch
Make the meatballs:
- This is also a rather typical recipe for making meatballs, similar to these Romanian pork and beef meatballs or these Turkish beef kofta.
- The only thing that might be different than usual is the fact that you will have to cook the chopped onions slightly before adding them to the ground meat mixture.
- I don't always do that, but it is actually recommendable, it helps avoiding larger pieces of rather uncooked onion in your mouth. If you are positive that you have chopped the onions as finely as possible, you might leave out this extra step.
Fry them:
- Fry the meatballs in batches in a hot cast iron or nonstick pan. Add more oil between the batches, if necessary.
- The pork meatballs are flat and small, so they will not need to cook for long.
- Cook them on medium-low heat and for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are deeply browned on the outside.
- Check one to make sure that they are cooked through.
- Place the pork meatballs in the hot sauce and stir well to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
How to serve?
Serve the pork meatballs in tomato sauce over garlic parmesan mashed potatoes (my favorite way), over spaghetti or other types of noodles (even zucchini noodles), over rice or eat simply with a slice of yogurt flaxseed bread.
Any type of green salad is a good side dish; our favorite is the one with yogurt dressing.
How to use them in other ways?
You can use these simple pork meatballs for other dishes as well. How about a turkey meatball cauliflower casserole or a spinach meatball potato casserole?
Or you can use the meatballs (cold) to make delicious sandwiches. Stuff the pork meatballs into split baguettes, which you've previously smeared with some good mustard, add lettuce leaves, shredded veggies, some hot sauce and even a little cheese, if you like. So good!
How to use the marinara sauce?
I think anybody can think of at least 3 ways of using marinara sauce. Here are my ideas:
Recipe
Pork Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
Quick version:
- leftover meatballs
- marinara sauce from a jar See note 1
Recipe from scratch
Marinara sauce:
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pack pureed tomatoes 500 g/ 17.6 oz (See note 2)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leave
- 1 pinch of sugar
- fine sea salt and pepper
Pork meatballs:
- 1 onion
- 1 thick slice white bread crusts removed (about 50 g/ 1.7 oz)
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 500 g/ 1.1 lbs ground pork
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- fine sea salt and pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley to serve
Instructions
Quick version:
- Heat the meatballs in the sauce, sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Recipe from scratch:
- Chop the onion and the garlic very finely.
- Heat the oil in a sauce pan and cook the onion and the garlic until translucent.
- Add pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried thyme, bay leave, a pinch of sugar, some salt and pepper and stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil and cook on a medium high heat for about 20 minutes, covered but leaving a crack open.
- Lower the heat and continue cooking for about 15 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly.
- If you are using leftover meatballs you can give them to the sauce during the last 10 minutes or so and heat them through.
- Adjust the taste with salt and pepper and another small pinch of sugar, if necessary.
Pork meatballs:
- Chop the onion finely.
- Heat ½ tablespoon oil in the pan you will use for frying the meatballs later and cook the onions until softer and golden. Transfer to the mixing bowl and let cool slightly.
- Remove the crust from the bread and soak the bread in some cold water. Squeeze it well and add it to the bowl.
- Add the grated garlic, ground pork, egg, parsley, thyme, about ½ teaspoon salt (to taste) and pepper. Mix well with your hand, form small meatballs. Wet your hands from time to time, it works better. Press the meatballs slightly to make them flatter.
- Place the flour on a large plate and turn the meatballs into the flour. Pat them carefully to remove the excess flour.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil in a large cast iron or non stick pan and fry the meatballs, in batches if necessary, adding a bit more of the remaining oil between the batches.
- Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until they are deeply browned on the outside.
- Check one to make sure that they are cooked through.
- Add the meatballs to the hot sauce and stir well to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
- Use as much sauce as needed, it depends on how many leftover meatballs you have.
- Not tomato paste.
Nutrition
François says
Seems terrific! I'll follow your recipe, but I'm pretty sure it won't look as beautiful as your photos!
Adina says
Thank you, Francois. I am sure your dish will look just as nice. 🙂
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
This looks delicious! There is nothing better than repurposing leftovers into a brand new yummy dish!
Adina says
Thank you, Valentina, I think that too, I hate throwing leftovers away.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Grandmother's recipes are the best! This looks like a perfect family favorite. Have a wonderful holiday, Adina! xo
Adina says
They are, Kate. A beautiful Christmas time to you to. 🙂
allie says
I get such a kick out of your grandmother, Adina. Like not eating anything white. My brother will not eat anything white either. I'm talking sour cream, cream cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise... you name it. The only way we can get him to eat it is if we SNEAK it in something and don't tell him -- as long as he doesn't know about it - he eats it just fine. Funny. This simple meatball dish looks so delicious. I know my boys will gobble it right up. Merry Christmas Adina - have a beautiful holiday with your family. XO
Adina says
Yeah, it is funny how they don't mind if they don't know it's there. 🙂 And it is funny that there are more people having an issue with white food, I thought my grandma was really special. I have to google that, it makes me curious! Merry Christmas to you too, Allie.
Denise Browning says
These are very tasty meatballs... this means, made right! And they look pretty appetizing too!
Adina says
Thank you, Denise.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
That's so funny and so true about what your grandmother said - just as well to make a big batch of meatballs if the house will smell like 'em! Plus, who doesn't love lots of yummy meatballs 😉 ? Looks delicious, Adina! Merry Christmas!
Adina says
I could not have enough meatballs, if you ask me. I always make a double batch, because we all love them so much, either hot or cold, with sauce or on bread, it doesn't matter. Merry Christmas to you to, Dawn, I hope you have a wonderful time.
Agness of Run Agness Run says
Yum! This is such an appetizing and awesome recipe which I will definitely prepare for the Christmas dinner, Adina! What kind of onion do you use?
Adina says
Nothing special, Agness, just plain onions. I hope you like it. I wish you a Merry Christmas!