Beef And Lentil Balls With Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
• 2 large carrots, finely chopped
• 16 ounces lean ground beef
• 1 cup brown lentils (7oz)
• 1 (14 ounce) can plum tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup dry red wine
• 2 -3 tablespoons low-sodium worcestershire sauce
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• sea salt
• ground black pepper
• 4 onions, finely chopped
• 2 (14 ounce) cans plum tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons dry red wine
• 3 fresh dill sprigs, finely chopped

Recipe

• 1 start by making the tomato sauce.
• 2 combine the onions, canned plum tomatoes and red wine in a saucepan.
• 3 bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• 4 puree the mixture in a blender or food processor, then return it to the saucepan and set it aside.
• 5 make the meatballs.
• 6 heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan and cook the copped onions, celery and carrots for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the onions and carrots are softened but not browned.
• 7 add the ground beef and cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the meat is lightly browned.
• 8 add the lentils, tomatoes, tomatoe paste, bay leaves, vegetable broth and wine.
• 9 mix well and bring to a boil, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon.
• 10 lower the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the liquid has been completely absorbed.
• 11 remove the bay leaves, then stir the worcestershire sauce into the lentil mixture.
• 12 remove the pan from the heat and add the eggs and parsley.
• 13 season with salt and pepper and mix well, then allow the mixture to cool.
• 14 meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350f degrees.
• 15 shape the beef mixture into neat balls, rolling them in your hands.
• 16 arrange in an ovenproof dish and bake for 25 minutes.
• 17 while the meatballs are baking, reheat the tomato sauce.
• 18 just before serving, stir in the chopped dill.
• 19 pour the tomato sauce over the meatballs and serve.