Meatzza

Ingredients

• 500g/1lb 2oz minced beef (preferably organic)
• 3 tbsp grated parmesan
• 3 tbsp breadcrumbs or porridge oats (not instant)
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Butter, for greasing
• 1x400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1 tsp garlic oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 x 125g/4½oz ball mozzarella (not buffalo), halved, then sliced
• Few leaves fresh basil

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7.
2. In a large bowl, using your hands, combine the mince, parmesan, breadcrumbs or oats, parsley, eggs, garlic, and add some salt and pepper. Do not overwork it, just lightly mix together or the meat will become compacted and dense.
3. Butter a round baking tin of about 28cm/11in diameter and turn the meat into it, pressing the mixture lightly with your fingers to cover the bottom as if the seasoned minced meat were your pizza crust.
4. Make sure you’ve drained as much runny liquid as possible out of your can of chopped tomatoes, then mix the tomato with the garlic oil, oregano and some salt and pepper and spread, using a rubber spatula, lightly on top of the meat base. Arrange the mozzarella slices on top, and then put in the oven for 20-25 minutes, by which time the meat should be cooked through and lightly set and the mozzarella melted.
5. Remove from the oven and let it sit for five minutes, then adorn with some basil leaves and bring it to the table before cutting into wedges, like a pizza.