Description
These sausage fennel meatballs simmered in a creamy tomato butter bean sauce offer a rich and comforting meal perfect for cozy dinners. The aromatic fennel and garlic-infused meatballs are seared to perfection, then gently cooked in a luscious tomato sauce enriched with cream and tender butter beans, creating a hearty and flavorful dish served best with crusty bread or rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage Meatballs
- 500 grams sausage meat
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (divided)
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sauce and Beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 400 grams (1 can) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 cans (400 grams each) butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Red pepper flakes, optional pinch
Instructions
- Prepare the skillet: Set a large skillet over medium heat. If you plan to serve the dish with rice or bread, begin preparing those as you start cooking.
- Make the meatball mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the sausage meat, crushed fennel seeds, 2 minced garlic cloves, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently to combine without overworking the meat, then form the mixture into 12 to 14 small meatballs.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in batches, searing them on all sides until they are browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes total. Remove the cooked meatballs from the pan and set them aside.
- Prepare the sauce: Using the same skillet, add the remaining minced garlic and tomato paste. Stir and cook briefly until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stirring to combine. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5 minutes to develop flavor.
- Simmer meatballs with sauce: Return the seared meatballs to the skillet, cover, and let them simmer gently in the sauce for 15 minutes to absorb the flavors. Then add the drained butter beans, uncover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes to warm the beans through.
- Finish the sauce: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the heavy cream to add richness. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes, then sprinkle with fresh chopped basil or parsley for a herbal note.
- Serve: Spoon the sausage fennel meatballs and creamy tomato butter bean sauce into bowls. Serve immediately with crusty bread or cooked rice to soak up the flavorful sauce and enjoy a comforting, hearty meal.
Notes
- Lightly crushing the fennel seeds releases more flavor into the meatballs.
- Do not overmix the meatball ingredients to keep them tender and juicy.
- Using canned butter beans saves time, but you can substitute with fresh cooked beans if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes during sauce preparation.
- The dish pairs excellently with crusty bread or steamed rice to complement the creamy sauce.
