Skip to main content

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

I have never made meatballs before to go with spaghetti when I make it so I am looking forward to making these.

Serves 6

For the meatballs: 
1/2 pound ground veal
1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 cups fresh white bread crumbs (about 5 slices, crusts removed)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 extra-large egg, beaten
Vegetable oil
Olive oil

For the sauce:
1 tablespoon good olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 (14-ounce) can pureed tomatoes
1 (14-ounce) can chopped or diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For serving: 
1 1/2 pounds spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
Freshly grated Parmesan

Make the meatballs: Place the ground meats, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, salt, pepper, onion powder, egg, and 3/4 cup warm water in a bowl. Combine very lightly with a fork. Using your hands, lightly form the mixture into 2-inch meatballs. You will have 14 to 16 meatballs. (Or perhaps 24, which is what I ended up with. I’m sorry I cannot give you a more precise measure; I am sure your amount will fall somewhere in the middle.)
Pour equal amounts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large (12-inch) skillet to a depth of 1/4-inch. Heat the oil. Very carefully, in batches, place the meatballs in the oil and brown them well on all sides over medium-low heat, turning carefully with a spatula or a fork. This should take about 10 minutes for each batch. Don’t crowd the meatballs. Remove the meatballs to a plate covered with paper towels. Discard the oil but don’t clean the pan.

Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in the same pan. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.
Serve hot on cooked spaghetti and pass the grated Parmesan.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

CREAMY MAC-AND-CHEESE

Ingredients 2 tbsp butter 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp white pepper 1/4 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp mustard powder Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 c heavy cream, room temperature 8 oz Colby Jack cheese, shredded 4 oz sharp Cheddar, shredded 1 lb baby shell pasta Directions In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic, white pepper, paprika, mustard powder. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Cook for a few minutes to let the flavors bloom, and then slowly stir in the heavy cream.  Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Add the cheeses and stir until melted, then remove from heat. Stir in the pasta and toss until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.                                              Here is how mine turned out:  ...

OREO CHEESECAKE BITES

Note: Prepare to make this everyday after you make it because they are addicting. I have never made cheesecake anything before this. It isn't like your traditional cheesecake where you would need the pan. Ingredients: 36 OREO Cookies, divided 1/4 cup butter or margarine, divided 4 pkg. (8 oz. each) of cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp. vanilla 4 eggs 1/2 pound (8 oz) chocolate candy coating  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. 2. Line a 13x9" baking pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 24 cookies (I placed them in a food processor and crushed them finely). Melt 1/4 cup butter; mix with crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. 3. Beat softened cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each just until blended. Chop remaining 12 Oreo cookies. Gently stir into batter; pour over crust. 4. Bake for about 45 minutes or until center is almost set. Let cool (I stu...

TIRAMISU

Ingredients: 500gr Mascarpone cheese (approx. 1 lb.) 6 pasteurized eggs 2 packages savoiardi lady fingers 3 Tablespoons sugar 2 shots Cognac or Brandy (2 oz)* 6 cups coffee, espresso sized cups (about 8 oz) 4 Tablespoons powdered unsweetened cocoa. * I substituted the alcohol with vanilla extract Directions: Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Make the espresso and poor it into shallow flat-bottomed bowl. Add one shot of cognac, one teaspoon cocoa, and allow to cool to room temperature.Separate egg yolks and whites. In the first mixing bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until creamy white. Add mascarpone and 1 shot of cognac and mix until blended. Leave this mixture in the bowl.In the second mixing bowl, beat eggs whites until fluffy. If you use pasteurized eggs, this may take a while.Fold beaten egg whites into mascarpone mixture. Mix only enough to blend. Over mixing will deflate the egg whites.Quickly dip a savoiardi in the espresso bowl. To get the right amou...