Once a Eurovision hopeful, chef Donal Skehan is nowadays happier cooking than singing. Recipie from Kitchen Hero: Great Food For Less

Serves four

Ingredients:

For the meatballs:

500g sausagemeat

100g breadcrumbs

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

2tsp Dijon mustard

2tbsp tomato ketchup

1tsp dried oregano

For the tomato sauce:

1tbsp olive oil

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped

2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes

1tsp Tabasco sauce

1tsp dried oregano

½ glass red wine (about 150ml)

300g good-quality linguine

Method: Place the sausagemeat, breadcrumbs, garlic, mustard, ketchup and oregano in a large bowl with a good pinch of salt and pepper and mix thoroughly with a fork.

Wear plastic gloves or dip your hands in a bowl of cold water, then take about a teaspoon of the mixture and roll with your hands into a small ball (It’s better to make the balls smaller as they will cook quicker and are a lot easier to eat.) Work your way through the mixture, setting the balls on a large baking tray. Place in the fridge to firm up.

Heat a large saucepan over a medium-high heat, add the olive oil and fry the onion for three minutes, then add the garlic and fry for one minute.

Add the tinned tomatoes, Tabasco, oregano and red wine and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced, skimming off any oily. Season to taste with sea salt and ground black pepper.

Add the meatballs to the saucepan, making sure they are covered by the saucer. Bring back to the boil, then simmer for another 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the linguine according to packet instructions, place on a serving platter and ladle over the meatballs and tomato sauce.

  • Kitchen Hero: Great Food For Less begins on Good Food on Monday.