Fettuccine with Spicy Lamb Sausage Meatballs in a Piquant Tomato Sauce

Pasta Spicy Lamb Meatballs (03) by MeetaK

Never mess with a classic dish! But I can't help myself sometimes. It's difficult not to allow imagination and creativity to have a say. Let's take the classic pasta and meatballs. I love it, Soeren loves it and Tom loves it too. We are probably amongst several thousands who enjoy this simple yet delicious classic dish. There are as many different recipes for a pasta and meatballs dish as there probably are cooks that make this.

I have made several variations too, sticking to some great traditional recipes. One thing however, was common with all the recipes - they were time consuming. If I wanted to cook up a good, mouthwatering meatballs and pasta meal I had to often plan ahead. The tomato sauce needs to reduce for and hour, the ground meat needs to be spiced, shaped and cooked - all in all it was not really a meal that you just whipped up on the spur of the moment.

The fact that we really enjoy our pasta and meatballs and wanted it more often made me play around a little. The motivation behind it was an attempt to create a similar type of dish but something that was easily prepared - even for a quick weeknight dinner.

It's not easy to please my men - when they have a taken a liking to a particular flavor or have a notion of how a dish is supposed to taste they are not easily convinced. I always get the look of skepticism when I announce that I am experimenting on a beloved recipe. Not all experiments work. But this one - this one was genius.

Pasta Spicy Lamb Meatballs (04) by MeetaK

This meatballs and pasta recipe gives the classic dish a new dimension, it's a modern makeover for the working or stay at home busy mums. It's quick to make saving on time but not on flavor. By using good quality and flavorful ingredients this is a delicious way to serve the all new meatballs and pasta.

Recipe: Fettuccine with Spicy Lamb Sausage Meatballs

Ingredients
Printable version of recipe here.

6-8 spicy lamb sausages
2 large yellow onions, finely chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
500g packet chunky tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 red chili, finely chopped
125g buffalo mozzarella, cut in cubes
150g peas, fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
Small bunch of thyme
200g strong vegetable broth
500g fresh Fettuccine pasta
2 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper

Method

  1. In a large skillet heat up 1 tablespoon oil.

  2. Remove the skin from the sausages and break off small pieces. Using your fingers form small balls and stir-fry in the oil.

  3. Reduce to heat to medium and allow the sausages to brown evenly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

  4. In the remaining fat sauté the chili, onions and garlic until transparent and fragrant.

  5. Add the tomato paste, cook for a few minutes, then add the chunky tomatoes and the vegetable broth. Sprinkle with the dried herbs, cover and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes.

  6. A few minutes before the cooking time in up add the peas and stir well. The sauce should have thickened nicely. Season to taste and then add the lamb meatballs. Heat through. Add the thyme, reserving a few for decoration.

  7. Cook the fresh pasta in a large pot with a lot of salted water. This should take just a couple of minutes.

  8. Drain the pasta and then transfer to the pan with the meatballs and sauce. Toss well.

  9. Serve pasta and meatballs in warmed deep plates, sprinkled generously with the buffalo mozzarella. Decorate with a few thyme sprigs.

Serving tips: 

  • Serve with a large mixed green salad for a perfect dinner.
  • You can use any flavorful, spicy sausage for this. I preferred the lamb sausage as my organic store makes them with a lot of aromatic herbs and they are so full of flavor. It's also a lot leaner than the regular bratwurst. A great alternative would also be the Italian Salsiccia.

 


Verdict

Pasta Spicy Lamb Meatballs (02) by MeetaK

Have I re-invented the wheel here? I do know, one thing I can tell you though, I had the jury licking their plates clean! It's a basic recipe I agree, but what makes this dish really kick is that the products are of a good quality, the lamb sausages were full of flavor and the sauce - simple but full of aromatic herbs with a hint of heat. Most of all it's a quick, easy and down-right good home-cooking.

As I've featured a lot of Italian herbs and my favorite thyme in this recipe I'd like to send it over to The Daily Tiffin, for this week's session of Weekend Herb Blogging. My team mate Dee is hosting this spectacular event over at the DT.

You might like these pasta dishes from WFLH:

LasagnaMushroomPesto 01a framed[3] SpaghettiBolognese 02 framed[3] DSC_0165.3
Ricotta Pesto & Mushroom Lasagne Spaghetti Alla Bolognese Spaghetti Zucchini e Limone

From around the blogs:

 

Daily Tiffin Reading Tip:

 


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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30 comments:

  1. surely i like these variation! it looks so good. Im getting hungry :)

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  2. Meeta, this dish looks so delicious! I will make this tomorrow!

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  3. This dish looks wonderful! Lip-smakingly delicious! Your bright and colorful pictures are amazing.

    cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. Meeta we are foodies after all. How boring would it be if we just copied others' recipes. You did a great job and your dish has made me hungry now. Lovely photos as always.

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  5. You will please this woman her if your serve this to me .
    Looks so yummy yummy delicious.
    Wish i had this for my dinner tonight.

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  6. Now this is what I call, hearty and delicious. The lamb sausage is a brilliant touch Meeta...as Ivy said, it would e boring if we all did the same.

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  7. Now this looks delicious! great combo!
    thanks for the comment!

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  8. Looks delicious meeta !
    picture looks wonderful.

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  9. How can we resist not messing with a recipe, however great a recipe is, we foodies are all about adding our own special touch to it, and it looks like yours was a golden touch in this one. Looks absolutely delicious, and it is just my kind of recipe -quick and easy. I'll try it with some whole wheat pasta.

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  10. what an amazing dish to prepare for ANY occasion!

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  11. Pasta and lamb sausage meatballs - I hope you didn't invite anyone else over because I am not sharing :)

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  12. Gorgeous! Just those pictures are making me want to eat. Lamb sausage meatballs sound like my kinda food:-)

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  13. The spicy lamb sausages sound wonderful -- I will have to look for those at my local market. Great idea to turn them into meatballs!

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  14. Wow Meeta!

    This pasta with the meatballs has a texture and flavors fantastic!

    I don't know if you've re-invented the wheel but for sure it's more round and delicious at this moment ;)

    Cheers!
    Gera

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  15. hey Meeta...the meatballs look awesome...great pictures...

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  16. This dish looks lovely. I'll make this with vegetarian "meat" balls or with veggie sausages if I can find them :-)

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  17. I like the idea of using sausage meat...it takes a lot of effort out of preparing this meal! Lovely pics, Meeta!

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  18. I wish I could reach right through the screen and eat that. Really, I do!!!

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  19. thank you so much for all your comments. glad you are liking my playing around! the lamb sausage is perfect for this. great veg alternatives are smokey tofu sausages or veg sausages.

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  20. Wow! This looks fantastic! I love your site, I found it today by coincidence and plan on coming back. :) Beautiful pictures!

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  21. Meeta,
    As always, your food and photos are gorgeous. Thanks for checking out my blog and for the friend request on Foodbuzz!

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  22. I love those spicy sausage meatballs. What a great recipe!

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  23. I love playing around with recipes...and I must say, Meeta, you've done a very good job...the dish looks so vibrant :-)

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  24. hehe i can imagine what you must go though when you say its not easy to please your men :)! i adore a hearty meatball and pasta meal too, and couldn't agree more that it needs a good hour or so. This sausage version is lovely and how nice to add green peas in there.Love the variation. I've tried pasta with beef sausage, but i've never got my hands on some lamb ones.

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  25. No messing with the classics but a little tinkering around here and there is defn allowed :) This is such a rustic dish,I can imagine several generations sitting around a table together, swapping stories while guplping down bowlfulls of pasta :)

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  26. Trust the men (male), they are the best judge! Meeta, you are so creative!

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  27. thanks everyone. glad you are liking the dish!

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  28. I like the recipe very much and also really love your photographs. They're very nicely staged and make the food look scrumptious.

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  29. Oh, what gorgeous, bright pictures! And the recipe sounds delicious, just the kind of thing hubby would love...

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  30. This looks and sounds relaly good! Love your pictures.

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta