Simple Romantic Dinner for Two: Spicy Tomato & Red Wine Meatballs & The Giveaway Winner

Whenever I think of spaghetti and meatballs, I could not help but to associate it with the iconic “spaghetti dinner” scene from Lady and The Tramp movie. Personally, I found the scene to be very romantic in a platonic way. With that being said, if I were to re-enact the scene with my beloved in real life for I will be the Lady and my beloved ….. well, I don’t think he will be happy playing the role of a stray mutt ha! As this is one of my favourite animated films of all time, I’ve always dreamed of having a cocker spaniel as a pet (oh I love those soft floppy ears!) as well as regarding spaghetti and meatballs as an ideal candlelight dinner dish.

I made spag balls using the Maggi Just For 2 Recipe Base for dinner on last Friday, the night before going on a weekend trip to Sydney. This was one of those times that I didn’t want to have any leftover. Moreover, it was so cold and rainy in Orange that straight-forward-and -mindless cooking seemed like a desirable option than dining out on a date night. Needless to say, neither bad weather nor last-minute-packing frantic could stand between my beloved and I from enjoying a date night.

As the recipe base already contained a mixture of Italian herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, oregano and bay leaf, all you have to add were meatballs, canned tomatoes (or passata), wine and an onion. Not too difficult huh? Feel like re-enacting your version of Lady and the Tramp over dinner?

Spicy Tomato & Red Wine Meatballs (ft. Maggi Just for 2)

What you’ll need for 2 servings:-

• 250g/9 ounces beef mince*
• 1 onion (150g/5 ounces), sliced thinly
• 1 x  7g (0.2 ounce) Maggi Just for 2 Spicy Tomato & Red Wine Meatballs
• 400g/ 14 ounces tinned crushed tomatoes**
• 1/4 cup (60ml/2 fl ounces) red wine***

Note: As it was not specified on the packet, I’d suggest 250g/9 ounces of uncooked spaghetti for 2 servings. Cook according to the packet instructions. I’d also recommend to garnish the dish with fresh basil of parsley and parmesan cheese. If you love hot food, why not sprinkle some chilli flakes too!

Method:-

1. Roll beef mince into 10 meatballs. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium frying pan, add meatballs, cook for 5 minutes or until browned, add onion, cook for a further 2 minutes or until softened. ****
2. Add MAGGI Recipe Base, tinned tomatoes and red wine, cook for a further 10 minutes or until cook through. Serve with spaghetti or fettuccine.

Side Notes:

* If you don’t feel like making the meatballs, another shortcut is to buy pre-made beef meatballs.

** I used bottled tomato passata. As the tomato passata usually comes in 500g/18 ounces bottle, you can freeze the unused portion in an ice cube tray.

*** For non-wine user, I’d suggest that you can substitute with stock or additional tomato passata.

**** I browned the meatballs without any oil in the pan, as there was some fat in the meatballs as well as this would minimise oil from splattering all over the stove. When I added the onions to the meatballs, I added some cooking oil then to help the onion cooked better.

And the winner of the Maggi Just For 2 Hamper Giveaway

is Kim M. Congratulation!!