Meatzza

For any of you out there also hooked on Nigellisima, you will have heard of her infamous Meatzza. It looks like a pizza, but the base is made out of meatball mixture which is pressed into a tin, rather like a big fat juicy burger!

Ingredients:

For the meatball mixture:

500 grams minced beef

3 tablespoons grated parmesan

3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 eggs (lightly beaten)

2 cloves garlic

For the tomato sauce:

1 can chopped tomatoes (400g), drained

1 teaspoon garlic oil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 ball mozzarella

1 bunch fresh basil 

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 220ºC/gas mark 7

2)  In a large bowl, combine the mince, Parmesan, breadcrumbs and eggs. Add the garlic and some salt and pepper. Do not overwork it, just lightly mix together, or the meat will become compacted and dense.

 3) Butter a shallow, round baking tin of about 28cm diameter and turn the meat into it, pressing the mixture lightly with your fingers to cover the bottom as if the seasoned minced meat were your pizza crust.

4) Make sure you've drained as much runny liquid as possible out of your can of chopped tomatoes, then mix the tomato with the garlic oil, oregano and some salt and pepper and spread, using a rubber spatula, lightly on top of the meat base.

5) Arrange the mozzarella slices on top, and then put in the oven for 20-25 minutes, by which time the meat should be cooked through and lightly set and the mozzarella melted.

6) Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes, then adorn with some basil leaves and bring it to the table before cutting into wedges, like a pizza.