Basic Italian Sauce and meat ball recipe...
Basic Italian Sauce and meat ball recipe...
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
* 2 tablespoons olive oil for frying
* 1 pound meat pieces (such as chuck roast, pork neck bones, country-style spareribs and/or sausage)
* Italian Meatballs (optional, recipe below)
* 1/2 onion, chopped fine
* 1 clove garlic, chopped fine (or garlic powder)
* 1/4 cup of dry red wine, optional
* 2 28-ounce cans plum tomatoes (such as San Marzano)
* 2 cups water, approximately
* 6-ounce can tomato paste
* 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes, or to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon oregano, or to taste
* 4 to 5 fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil)
* Salt and pepper to taste
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add meat and, on high heat, brown it on all sides to lock in the juices. Reduce to medium heat.
Add finely chopped onion and garlic and saute until softened. Add 1/4 cup of red wine, if desired, for flavor. Puree the tomatoes by straining them or using a food mill, and add them with their juice to the saucepan.
Fill each tomato can halfway with water (approximately 1 cup for each can), stir to loosen any tomatoes still in the can, and add this to the sauce as well.
Add tomato paste, parsley, oregano, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to incorporate all ingredients and simmer, covered, for at least an hour. (This is where you'd add meatballs, recipe below.) Stir sauce occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve the sauce over any cooked pasta of your choice and serve the meat as a separate dish.
Variation: 2 28-ounce cans of canned tomato sauce or puree may be substituted for the tomatoes and the tomato paste. You may also substitute 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix for the dried basil, oregano, and parsley.
Serves 8 to 10.
Italian meatballs
* 1 pound ground chuck or ground sirloin
* 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley (or dried parsley flakes)
* 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
* 1 egg
* 1/4 cup bread crumbs
* 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh garlic clove, chopped fine)
* 1 tablespoon water
* Salt and pepper to taste
Mix together all the ingredients.
Shape the mixture into round balls about 2 inches in diameter. Drop into a pot of cooked sauce, which has been brought to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook in the sauce for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with pasta, or on an Italian bun.