Meatballs and tomato sauce
For the meatballs:
500g beef mince (ideally steak mince if you can - any if you can't!)
1 red pepper
2 banana/echalion shallots
2-4 cloves garlic, depending on taste
1 red or green chilli, if you like a spicy taste
couple of rashers of smoked, streaky bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil
Put all the ingredients, except the mince, into a food processor and blitz till finely chopped
Add the mince and the oil, season with salt (be generous with the salt) and pepper, then process again till it's all amalgamated
Tip out onto a work surface/chopping board and form into meatballs - roughly the size of a large walnut/ping pong ball, put into a baking tin
Bake in a hot oven for around 20 minutes, till they are nicely browned. (Check them after 10 minutes and turn over if necessary - to stop them sticking/burning)
Whilst the meatballs are cooking make the tomato sauce:
1 x carton of tomatoes (I use Sainsbury's Basics, in a carton, as they are relatively low in carbs - if you can't find those, use any tinned tomatoes, but look for the lowest carb count)
2 shallots, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
dried oregano, salt and black pepper
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, then gently fry the shallots and garlic until soft
Season with oregano and salt/pepper
Add the tomatoes, bring to the boil, then simmer
If you like/have any fresh basil, this is lovely to add instead of the dried oregano.
Serve with lots of grated Parmesan (or mature cheddar if you prefer).