Double-mozza Baked Meatballs

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 125 g canadian mozzarella cheese (in a block)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup dry bread, crumbs
• 1 (540 ml) can italian-style stewed tomatoes

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400°f butter a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
• 2 cut twelve 1-inch cubes of mozzarella; place in a bowl and freeze while preparing meat mixture. shred remaining cheese on the coarse side of a cheese grater; set aside.
• 3 in a bowl, using a fork, combine egg, tomato paste, basil and pepper. add beef and bread crumbs and combine gently with the fork just until blended. divide meat mixture into 12 portions. shape each portion into a flat circle and pack tightly around 1 cube of mozzarella cheese, making a smooth ball with the cheese in the centre. place in prepared baking dish.
• 4 bake for 15 minutes or until browned. pour tomatoes over top and sprinkl with half the shredded mozzarella. bake for 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of meatballs registers at least 160f, and tomatoes are bubbling.
• 5 sprinkle with remaining cheese.