Ingredients

• 100ml/3½fl oz olive oil
• 1 onion
• chopped
• 1 celery stalk
• finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 2 x 400g/14fl oz cans chopped tomatoes
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 100ml/3½fl oz chicken stock
• 100ml/3½fl oz red wine
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion
• chopped
• 5 garlic cloves
• chopped
• 450g/1lb minced pork
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• vegetable oil
• for brushing
• spaghetti
• cooked according to packet instructions
• to serve

Directions

• For the tomato sauce
• heat the oil in a large pan over a low heat. Add the onion
• celery and garlic and fry until softened
• but not coloured.
• Add the tomato purée and cook for a few minutes
• then add the canned tomatoes
• cinnamon
• stock and wine.
• Season
• to taste
• with salt and freshly ground black pepper and bring to the boil
• then turn the heat down very low.
• Half-cover the pan with a lid and leave the sauce to simmer for one hour
• stirring occasionally.
• If you want a smooth sauce
• transfer to a food processor and blend the sauce
• then pass it through a fine sieve before using. Otherwise use as it is.
• Meanwhile
• for the meatballs
• heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
• Add the onion and the garlic and fry until softened. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Preheat the grill to its highest setting.
• Place the pork mince
• basil and cinnamon into a bowl and add the cooked onion and garlic. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well.
• Roll small amounts of the mince mixture into balls. This quantity of mixture should make 12-16 meatballs
• depending on size.
• Brush the meatballs with a little oil and place onto a baking tray.
• Place under the grill to cook for 6-8 minutes
• turning occasionally and brushing them with a little oil as they brown.
• To serve
• stir the cooked spaghetti through the sauce and place onto plates with three or four meatballs placed on top.