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Irish Beef & Wensleydale Meatballs Traybake

Juicy Irish beef meatballs stuffed with creamy Wensleydale, roasted with beetroot and blackberries, and finished with a balsamic glaze. A comforting traybake with a gourmet twist.

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 500 g Irish minced beef
  • 100 g Wensleydale cheese cut into small cubes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 black pepper
  • 2 tbsp duck fat

Vegetables & Traybake

  • 400 g small beetroot peeled and cut into wedges
  • 150 g  fresh blackberries
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary (plus extra for garnish)
  • Salt and black pepper

Sauce / Glaze

  • 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 150 ml beef or vegetable stock (or water + stock pot)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Method

  • Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas 6. Pour the duck fat into the tray. Heat up to sizzling before popping in the meatballs.
  • Prepare meatballs: season the mince, roll the meatballs, poke a hole, stuff with the cheese, seal up and pop into the tray of hot duck fat to cook.
  • Toss beetroot wedges and blackberries in 1–2 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, and a few rosemary leaves. Spread on the tray around the meatballs. Mix together the balsamic vinegar, stock, and mustard in a small saucepan. Heat gently until combined and slightly thickened (3–4 mins).
  • Bake for 25–30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and beetroot is tender. Check with a thermometer — internal meatball temp should reach 74°C.

Finish & serve:

  • Drizzle glaze over meatballs and vegetables.
  • Serve straight from the tray with extra rosemary sprigs for garnish.
  • Serve over mash or chop up some baby potoates and roast them in witht he meatballs and veg.
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