Spices for meatballs and tomato sauce

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amother

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:39 am

what spices can I add to meatballs and tomato sauce?

it doesnt need salt. I sautee plenty carrots onions garlic. add black pepper, abit of basil but
still bland.

amother

Narcissus

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:43 am

If it's bland, why do you think that it does need salt?
I'd add salt and maybe a bit of sugar or honey.

amother

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:51 am

amother Narcissus wrote:

If it's bland, why do you think that it does need salt?
I'd add salt and maybe a bit of sugar or honey.

bland in the way of lacking spice.

amother

NeonOrange

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:52 am

Try adding oregano, thyme and sage.

Eta, and more than just a bit of basil.

amother

Narcissus

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:52 am

amother OP wrote:

bland in the way of lacking spice.

I'd start with salt, add more pepper & more garlic.

scruffy

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:53 am

When in doubt add more onions and garlic!

amother

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 7:57 am

I sautee 2 onions, 4 pieces of garlic - I use a little more than a 1/4 for the meatballs (1 lb mince) and the rest fro the sauce.

amother

Bellflower

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 10:56 am

I usually do for a similar amount of meat a good heaped tsp of both basil and oregano, sometimes parsley or chili powder if I'm in the mood. I also have a bit of sugar and salt.
I also use passata rather than tomato sauce as I find it's thicker and has more flavor.
How long are you cooking it for? I find with meatballs or bolognaise cooking for a long time really helps deepen the flavor.

amother

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 11:03 am

amother Bellflower wrote:

you add the spices to the meatballs or the sauce?

deepens flavour of what? sauce or balls?

I let the sauce cook for an hr first before adding the meatballs otherwise the meatballs can overcook?

what is passata?

amother

NeonPurple

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 11:45 am

amother OP wrote:

what spices can I add to meatballs and tomato sauce?

it doesnt need salt. I sautee plenty carrots onions garlic. add black pepper, abit of basil but
still bland.

Depends what you like.
If you want it a bit spicy you can add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce, you can add Italian seasoning, and more garlic. I find meatballs get most of their taste from the sauce they’re in.

amother

Bellflower

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 11:50 am

amother OP wrote:

I'm not in the US, so I don't know if it goes by another name. It looks almost like tomato sauce and is found in the aisle next to it, but it's a thicker liquid and I think it has more flavor.
I add spices to both meatball mixture and sauce.
A lot of the time I do the sweet and sour meatballs from the 1st BY cookbook and it comes out great. I add the sauce ingredients to the pot and bring to boiling point, then drop meatballs in. And leave to cook for 1.5-2 hours. With enough sauce, I've never had my meatballs dry out.

amother

Lawngreen

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 11:57 am

I add crushed garlic and a splash of red wine vinegar, then use 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and simmer 25 minutes to bring out flavors, before I even add meatballs.

The little bit or sweetener balances and brings all the flavors together.

yachnabobba

Wed, Feb 15 2023, 12:02 pm

Sugar lemon juice bay leaf

yo'ma

Thu, Feb 16 2023, 4:48 am

amother Bellflower wrote:

Maybe tomato paste. Adds a lot of flavor that tomato sauce doesn’t.

amother

Tue, Feb 21 2023, 7:28 am

all these spices go into the meatballs or just the sauce?

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