Corsican Culadur with Herbed Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• Meatballs: Meatballs:
• 500g (1.1 lb) ground beef 500g (1.1 lb) ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
• Tomato Sauce: Tomato Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 400g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes 400g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 20g, 7g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 15g, 4g
• Protein: 28g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients and mix well until evenly combined.
2. 2.
   Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
3. 3.
   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
4. 4.
   In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
5. 5.
   Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
6. 6.
   Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer in the tomato sauce for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
7. 7.
   Serve the Culadur hot with crusty bread or pasta.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Ground beef — Choose lean ground beef for a healthier option. If desired, you can also use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for added flavor.
• Fresh herbs — Use fresh herbs whenever possible to enhance the flavors of the meatballs. If you don't have fresh herbs, you can substitute with dried herbs, but reduce the quantity by half.

Tips & Tricks

• For a lighter version, you can bake the meatballs in the oven instead of frying them.
• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce for a hint of spiciness.
• Serve the Culadur with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for an extra burst of flavor.
• Make a double batch of the meatballs and freeze them for future use.
• Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor profile of the meatballs.

Serving advice

Serve the Culadur hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil leaves. Accompany it with a side of crusty bread or cooked pasta to soak up the delicious tomato sauce.

Presentation advice

Arrange the Culadur meatballs on a platter, spooning the tomato sauce over them. Garnish with a sprig of fresh herbs for an attractive presentation. Serve with a side of crusty bread or pasta.