Ready for Instagram stardom: Spaghetti & Meatball Muffins
Spaghetti and meatballs is one of those truly classic dishes that has been almost forgotten in favor of the new "foodie" revolution. Nowadays, everything must be ultra-gourmet, with a million subtle flavors and a visual impact that has everyone at the table scrambling to be the first to open their Instagram app.
Well, with a nod to the latter point, these bite-sized (ok, maybe two or three big bites) noodly appetizers really are adorable, so Instagram away! But as to being something urban food snobs are ever going to embrace, hmmmmm... maybe you have to convince them that these are trendy "retro" treats. Better idea: leave the snobs off the invite list this time — let them seeeeeeeeethe with jealousy when they see your awesome Instagram snaps!
You will need (for 6 servings):
- 5 oz ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
- 3.5 oz cooked spaghetti
- 4 oz grated parmesan
- 4 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Here's how:
- To prepare the meatballs, combine ground beef and onion, season to taste with salt and pepper, and roll the meat into golfball-sized balls. Season a frying pan with a little oil and brown the meatballs on all sides.
- Mix the cooked spaghetti with 3.5 oz parmesan (saving a little for garnishing) and 1 tbsp olive oil and when well-coated, swirl onto a fork against a spoon until you have a portion sizeable enough and gently press into the muffin form.
- Add a spoonful of tomato sauce to the middle of the noodle nest, place a meatball on top, follow with another dollop of sauce and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 375 °F for 20 minutes. When ready to serve, garnish with more parmesan and chopped basil leaves.
Now, who's ready for a snob-free party? We think this appetizer is so much fun, we may even see swanky restaurants bringing back the meatball! #meatball