Fairy Platinum Challenge | Spaghetti with meatballs braid

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Spaghetti with meat balls braid

Ingredients

Bread

• 1½ cups warm water (45°C)
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cups plain flour

Marina sauce

• 1 tbsp good olive oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• ½ cup good red wine,
• 1 tin crushed tomatoes, or plum tomatoes in puree, chopped
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, some oregano and some basil.
• 1½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Meat balls

• 500g extra lean pork, minced
• Handful Parmesan
• Salt and pepper
• Parsley, chopped
• 1 egg, beaten

• 300g spaghetti, boiled until al dente
• Mozzarella, grated
• Melted butter
• Garlic, finely chopped
• Parsley, finely chopped

Method

1. To make the bread, stir together warm water, yeast, and sugar and let stand until creamy (approx 10 mins).
2. Add the oil, salt, and 2 cups flour. Stir in the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (approx 8 mins).
4. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles in size.
5. Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
6. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. While the dough is rising prepare the filling.
7. Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent, (approx 5 to 10 mins).
8. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, (approx 3 mins).
9. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.
10. To make the meatballs, mix the minced pork with the Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley and the beaten egg.
11. Shape into balls and bake in a pre-heated oven until done.
12. Roll one portion of the dough into about an 11X17-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper.
13. Using a pizza cutter, knife, or dough cutter, cut 1-inch wide strips in towards the centre, starting on the long sides. There should be a solid strip about 3 inches wide down the centre, with the cut strips forming a fringe down each side.
14. Mix pasta with the marina sauce and place in the middle.
15. Top with meatballs and grated mozzarella.
16. Fold the side strips over filling, alternating strips from each side and pressing them into the dough on the opposite side, forming a braid. Pinch or twist to seal.
17. Pick up the parchment paper, and transfer it to the baking sheet and let rest for 15 minutes.
18. Brush with a mixture of some melted butter, finely chopped garlic and chopped parsley.
19. Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until done.