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Sausage Fennel Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Butter Beans

Sausage Fennel Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Butter Beans
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Sausage Fennel Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Butter Beans is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring savory meatballs infused with aromatic fennel and Italian sausage, simmered in a luscious creamy tomato sauce with tender cannellini beans. Perfect for cozy dinners, this one-pot meal offers bold harmonized flavors, balanced nutrition, and an impressive yet simple preparation.

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • Italian sausage (preferably mild or sweet) – 8 oz (225 g)
  • Ground pork or beef – 8 oz (225 g)
  • Fennel bulb, finely chopped – 1 cup
  • Garlic, minced – 2 cloves
  • Fresh parsley, chopped – 2 tbsp
  • Egg – 1 large
  • Salt – 1 tsp
  • Black pepper – ½ tsp
  • Olive oil – 2 tbsp (for browning)

Sauce

  • Onion, chopped – 1 medium
  • Garlic, minced – 2 cloves
  • Crushed tomatoes – 14 oz (400 g) can
  • Cannellini (butter) beans, drained and rinsed – 1 can (15 oz / 425 g)
  • Butter – 2 tbsp
  • Water or broth – ¼ cup (60 ml)
  • Fresh basil, chopped – 2 tbsp
  • Fresh parsley, chopped – 2 tbsp
  • Red pepper flakes (optional) – ¼ tsp
  • Salt and black pepper – to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture: Finely chop the fennel bulb and combine it with ground pork (or beef) and Italian sausage. Add minced garlic, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and one egg as a binder. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender. Shape the mixture into small, even-sized meatballs.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides until golden but not fully cooked through. Remove and set aside on a plate while preparing the sauce.
  3. Make the Creamy Tomato Butter Beans Sauce: In the same pan, sauté chopped onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes and a splash of water or broth. Stir in drained cannellini beans and a knob of butter. Simmer gently, allowing the sauce to thicken and the beans to soften into a creamy texture.
  4. Combine and Cook Through: Return the browned meatballs to the pan, nestling them into the creamy tomato butter bean mixture. Cover and let everything simmer for about 15 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked and the flavors have melded beautifully.
  5. Finish with Fresh Herbs: Stir in chopped fresh basil and parsley just before serving to add brightness and freshness to the dish.

Notes

  • Don’t overmix the meatball ingredients to keep them tender.
  • Use fresh fennel bulb for subtle sweetness; fennel seeds alone won’t provide the same effect.
  • Take your time to brown the meatballs evenly for a richer flavor and better texture.
  • Simmer the sauce gently to let the beans become creamy and soak up the flavors.
  • Optional: Add a splash of white wine or smoked paprika for extra depth.

Nutrition

Keywords: sausage meatballs, fennel meatballs, creamy tomato sauce, butter beans, Italian recipe, one-pot meal, gluten free meatballs, comfort food

Find it online: https://eazyum.com/sausage-fennel-meatballs-with-creamy-tomato-butter-beans/