Meatball slider burgers

Ingredients:

Meatballs

• 450 g of ground beef
• 450 g minced meat sausages for frying (preferably made from minced pork with spices)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling
• 350 gr. ricotta cheese
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. breadcrumbs
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• Olive oil
• 33 small ones potato buns, pre-fried

Sauce

• 800 g canned crushed tomatoes
• 4 or 5 garlic cloves, chopped (not too finely, 0.5cm pieces)
• 1/2 tsp dried pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt

Preparation:

1. Prepare the sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the garlic and pepper flakes for 1 minute. Stir constantly and be careful not to burn the garlic. Add the tomatoes and season with salt. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius. In a large bowl, combine both types of ground meat, onion, garlic, thyme, parsley, egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, ricotta cheese, and salt. Mix the ground meat with your hands.
   
   Form the minced meat into 4 cm meatballs. Heat a large non-stick frying pan (preferably cast iron) with a little oil.
   
   Add the meatballs and fry for 4 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. Place the pan with the meatballs in the oven for 10 minutes to finish cooking.
3. Mix the meatballs with 3 cups of the prepared sauce. Place them on toasted buns and sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley.