Allie Allen - Meatball Mania!: Discover the Most Delicious and Easy Meatball Recipes

Delicious recipe with garlic, tomato sauce and herbs.

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Sauce:

• 3 to 4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp. fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce + scant can of water
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste + scant can of water
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. dried sweet basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Meatballs:

• 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 to 3 tbsp. water
• 1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs (add more as needed)
• 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

Sauce: Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan on high. Add onions and saut 1 minute. Turn down heat to medium-high. Cook for 10 minutes or until beginning to brown. Add garlic, saut about 5 minutes, or until both are golden brown (careful not to burn). Add fresh parsley and saut just a few seconds. Add tomato sauce and paste. Fill cans with equal parts of water (scant) and add to sauce. Stir well until all lumps are dissolved. Add dried herbs by crushing between your hands. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low & simmer 45 mins to 1 hour. Add cooked meatballs.

Meatballs: Add ground beef with remaining ingredients and mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 to 2-inch balls. Heat skillet with about 1 to 2 tbsp. olive oil. Place meatballs in pan and cook over medium-high heat, turning when meat loosens from pan. When done, remove & drain on paper towels. Add to sauce, stirring carefully.

To serve with cooked pasta: Place drained pasta in a pot. Toss with 1/2 cup sauce, coating the pasta with a light coating of sauce. Serve on plates and drizzle with a little more sauce on top. Sprinkle and garnish with fresh chopped basil and grated Parmesan/Romano cheese. Place any leftover sauce in a sauceboat or server.