Cafe Lula

When I was at uni, Chris and I would go to Subway for lunch pretty much every week with our two most favouritest housemates (Hi Dave and Simmo!). I would always, always, always get a footlong meatball marinara and invariably end up with a tummy ache. But I didn’t care. I loved them. Meatballs, cheese and bread. What’s not to love?

Eventually I learnt my lesson (and how to manage my money, ha!) and gave up the Subway, but I still regularly have a massive craving for meatball sandwiches. The only thing to do was make them myself, and they were yummy. No tummy ache either! 🙂

Meatball subs

A Cafe Lula recipe

Serves 6 (makes about 30 meatballs)

Ingredients:

750g minced beef

2 garlic cloves, crushed

4 shallots, chopped

black pepper and salt, to season

a pinch of mixed herbs

1 egg, beaten

olive oil, for frying

690g passata

180g grated mozzarella (about 30g per sub)

bread for six subs, to serve (I had mine in ciabatta)

Put the beef, garlic and two of the shallots in a bowl and mix well. Add the salt, black pepper and mixed herbs and mix again. Add the egg, mix well and then form the mixture into meatballs.

Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the meatballs and fry until browned all over. You may need to do this in batches.

In a large pan, heat a little olive oil over a medium heat and add the remaining two shallots. Fry until softened and transparent. Add the passata and season with black pepper and salt. When the sauce is hot, add the meatballs and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through.

Split the bread and grill the middle briefly until just lightly toasted. Add the meatballs and top with mozzarella. Grill until the mozzarella has melted. Serve with chips and salad.