Meatballs in spicy tomato sauce

Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5 minutes. Squeeze out excess moisture and place in a bowl with beef, garlic, egg yolk and paprika. Season with salt and pepper, then, using your hands, knead mixture until smooth. Form into 12 balls and place on a tray. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes to rest.

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook meatballs, turning, for 4 minutes or until browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate. Reserve pan with oil.

To make tomato sauce, return reserved pan with oil over medium heat. Add extra virgin olive oil, onion, garlic and bay leaf, and cook for 4 minutes or until onion is softened. Add paprika and cook for a further minute or until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and return meatballs to pan. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until sauce has thickened and meatballs are cooked through. Add a little water, if necessary, to stop sauce sticking to the bottom of the pan. Transfer to a bowl and serve immediately.