Pork Meatball Fusilli with Sundried Tomato Sauce & Rocket Pesto

Pork Meatball Fusilli with Sundried Tomato Sauce & Rocket Pesto

This Italian-style classic is a bowlful of comfort. You'll pan simmer juicy meatballs, made with tender free-range British pork and fragrant fennel seeds, in a rich tomato ragu. Then toss through brown rice fusilli to soak up all the flavour. Top with a creamy pesto rocket for a pop of green. Buon appetito!

High protein 1/3 daily fibre 4 of 5 a day

Serving size

Cook time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Food group: Pork
Allergens: Eggs, Milk

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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Pull out a large frying pan, a medium saucepan, a medium bowl, a small bowl, a measuring jug, a grater & a sieve

Shape the meatballs

  • Finely grate the cheese
  • Add the pork mince, fennel seeds, half the cheese and half the sundried tomato paste to the medium bowl. Season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper
  • Mix well and shape into 10 even-sized meatballs (5 for 1 person)

Simmer simmer

  • Finely chop or crush the garlic. Halve the tomatoes. Dice the pepper into 1cm chunks
  • Reheat the large frying pan with 1/2 tsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the meatballs and pepper and cook for 5 mins, until the meatballs are golden brown all over
  • Add the garlic, fresh tomatoes and remaining sundried tomato paste and cook for 1 min
  • Stir in the stock powder, chopped tomatoes and 100ml water (50ml for 1 person). Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper

Cook the pasta & make the pesto

  • Bring the medium saucepan filled with salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the fusilli and boil for 10-11 mins, until cooked, then drain
  • When ready, stir the pasta into the sauce and season to taste salt and pepper. Add a splash of water if needed
  • Meanwhile, roughly chop half the rocket and add to the small bowl, along with the pesto, 1/2 tsp olive oil and the remaining cheese. Mix well to combine

Plate up

  • Check your meat is cooked through; it should be golden brown, steaming hot, the juices should run clear when cut and there should be no pink / rare meat inside
  • Share the meatball pasta between bowls. Scatter over the remaining rocket and top with the rocket pesto to finish

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