Pork meatballs with whipped ricotta and roasted datterini

Ingredients Serves 4

Meatballs

½ tbsp fennel seeds

400g pork mince

2 eggs

80g pancetta cubes or lardons, very finely chopped

40g parmesan or pecorino, finely grated

½ onion, peeled and finely grated

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated/crushed

10g fresh parsley, very finely chopped

1½ tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp lemon zest

½ tsp ground cumin

¼ tsp chilli flakes

¾ tsp fine salt

Plenty of black pepper (about 30 twists of the grinder)

Roasted tomatoes

350g sweet ripe cherry tomatoes

10g basil, stalks and leaves

3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed with the side of a knife

5 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp maple syrup or honey 

1 tsp fennel seeds

½ tsp fine salt

½ tbsp water

2 tsp Calabrian chilli paste aka Crema di peperoncino - I use one by Seggiano brand  

Whipped ricotta

250g full fat ricotta

1 small garlic clove, finely grated/crushed

1 tsp lemon zest

¼ tsp fine salt

Plenty of pepper (about 10 twists)

To serve

10g fresh parsley

10g fresh basil leaves

½ small onion, very thinly sliced

1 lemon, halved

Method

First make the meatballs. Add the fennel seeds to a large frying pan on a medium-high heat. Toast for 2 mins, tossing the seeds every now and then until fragrant. Tip into a mortar and crush to a coarse powder. 

Tip the crushed seeds into a large mixing bowl along with all the remaining ingredients for the meatballs. Mix very well, then with oiled hands, form into 12 compact meatballs. 

Preheat the oven to 230C.

Place the cherry tomatoes into a 20cm round baking dish (or similar) - the dish should be just big enough to fit them snugly in a single layer (if it's any bigger, the liquid produced whilst roasting will catch and burn). Add the basil, garlic, oil, maple syrup, fennel seeds and fine salt and mix well. Roast for 25 mins, or until the tomatoes are beginning to char. Remove from the oven and stir in the water and up to 2 tsp Calabrian chilli paste, to taste. 

While the tomatoes are roasting, fry the meatballs. Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add 1½ tbsp oil and, once hot, spread the meatballs out in the pan and fry for 10 minutes, turning three times throughout, until you get a good golden-brown crust all over. Transfer the meatballs to a baking tray, then transfer to the oven for 5 mins, until cooked through. 

Add all the ingredients for the ricotta to a mixing bowl and whisk until completely smooth. 

Spoon the ricotta onto a large platter and top with the meatballs, followed by the roasted tomatoes and their juices. For the salad topping, toss the herbs together with a bit of oil, salt and lemon juice. Arrange over the meatballs and serve with lemon wedges alongside.