Category: Marinara

Homemade Italian Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

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While this is not traditionally a dish found in restaurants around Italy, I think it’s pretty much synonymous with Italian American cuisine. My approach is to keep it simple and treat it as two dishes combined. Meatballs in a marinara sauce. 

There are so many options for meatballs and so many things you can add. This is my basic recipe and feel free to experiment. 

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1 lb Beef, ground, but not too lean. 80/20 is perfect. 

1 lb Pork, ground

2 Tbsp Breadcrumbs 

2 Tbsp Milk, whole. 

2 Eggs, beaten 

1 Tbsp Parmesan or Romano Cheese, grated

Salt and Pepper

1 Tbsp Onion, grated. 

1 clove Garlic, crushed. 

Dash of freshly grated Nutmeg. 

Gently combine the meat using two forks to pull it together without compacting it. The key to a good moist meatball is not to overwork the meat. Then combine the breadcrumbs and milk and add the two eggs and beat the mixture. 

Gently mix the garlic, onion, grated cheese and nutmeg into the meat mixture and add the breadcrumb, milk and egg mixture in a bit at a time gently incorporating it with a fork and then finish with salt and pepper. Cover it, and into the fridge for at least an hour.

Sauce:

Olive Oil

1 medium Onion, minced

1/2 cup Carrot, minced

1/2 cup Celery, minced

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1/4 cup Marsala or White Wine 

2- 28oz cans of whole peeled Tomatoes, crushed by hand. 

Salt and Pepper

Preparation:

Form your meatballs into the size of about a golf ball. Then you have two choices. You can lightly sear them in a sauté pan with olive oil or you can drop them into your simmering sauce. I believe either way is good.

Sauté your onion, carrot, celery, and garlic until it’s translucent, and the smell changes slightly. The key to a good sauce is a properly prepared sofritto.

Deglaze with your wine and add your tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer. Add in your meatballs and simmer gently for 2-3 hours.

Serve with spaghetti and traditionally some garlic bread. Perfect!

Homemade Italian Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

While this is not traditionally a dish found in restaurants around Italy, I think it’s pretty much synonymous with Italian American cuisine. My approach is to keep it simple and treat it as two dishes combined. Meatballs in a marinara sauce. 
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Meatballs:
  • 1 lb Beef ground, but not too lean. 80/20 is perfect.
  • 1 lb Pork ground
  • 2 Tbsp Breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbsp Milk whole.
  • 2 Eggs beaten
  • 1 Tbsp Parmesan or Romano Cheese grated
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Onion grated.
  • 1 clove Garlic crushed.
  • Dash of freshly grated Nutmeg.
Sauce:
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Onion minced
  • 1/2 cup Carrot minced
  • 1/2 cup Celery minced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Marsala or White Wine
  • 2- 28 oz cans of whole peeled Tomatoes crushed by hand.
  • Salt and Pepper

Equipment

  • Heavy Pot

Method
 

Meatballs
  1. Gently combine the meat using two forks to pull it together without compacting it. The key to a good moist meatball is not to overwork the meat. Then combine the breadcrumbs and milk and add the two eggs and beat the mixture.
  2. Gently mix the garlic, onion, grated cheese and nutmeg into the meat mixture and add the breadcrumb, milk and egg mixture in a bit at a time gently incorporating it with a fork and then finish with salt and pepper. Cover it, and into the fridge for at least an hour.Form your meatballs into the size of about a golf ball. Then you have two choices. You can lightly sear them in a sauté pan with olive oil or you can drop them into your simmering sauce. I believe either way is good.
Sauce:
  1. Sauté your onion, carrot, celery, and garlic until it’s translucent, and the smell changes slightly. The key to a good sauce is a properly prepared sofritto.
  2. Deglaze with your wine and add your tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer. Add in your meatballs and simmer gently for 2-3 hours.
  3. Serve with spaghetti and traditionally some garlic bread. Perfect!

Notes

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Authentic Sunday Sauce: A Step by Step To Create A Family Tradition

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Regular readers will know my love for Italian food runs deep, especially for the true comfort dishes practiced and perfected in kitchens by generations of nonnas (Italian grandmothers).

Sunday is a special day when the family comes together for a big meal and while each family has their own traditions of which dishes are served. In the US, the tradition of the Sunday Sauce is essential.

I was given this recipe by a coworker and she said it was her grandmother’s pride and joy. They lived in the North End in Boston and their family had been there for generations.

While this is a marinara base, the key is the slowly braised meats which flavor the sauce and then impart a flavor to the sauce that is beyond delicious. You can also add braciole, lamb necks and/or veal knuckles etc, but this is optional. Bottom line, if you cook anything in a tomato sauce for 4 hours, it will come out great.

 The key, as with all comfort food, is to use the best ingredients, take your time and layer the flavors. Here is what you will need.

If you’re interested in exploring another Italian classic, click here Classic Bolognese Sauce Recipe: Slow and Delicious

What’s the trick to make the best Sunday Sauce?

I’d say two things are key. The initial roasting in the oven. Removes excess fat and browns the meat. Removing the fat keeps the sauce from getting a greasy mouth feel. Lastly, the super low simmer makes the flavors really come together. I don’t think you can cook it too long. 

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

½ lb ground Beef

½ lb ground Pork

2 Tbsp Grated Romano Cheese

2 Tbsp Breadcrumbs, I like panko breadcrumbs or plain.

1 Egg, beaten

1 tsp Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, this is my secret weapon for killer meatballs.

Sauce:

5 Italian Sausages, sweet/hot or both, cut in half.

1 or 2 Beef Short Ribs, depends on size. Try to find them around 3 to 4 inches; the larger ones do not fit in the pan well. You can also have the butcher cut them in half.

1 or 2 Pork Ribs, country style is good. Same size as above.

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

4 cloves of Garlic, smashed with side of knife and loosely chopped

1 cup finely diced Onion

½ cup finely diced Carrot

½ cup finely diced Celery

¼ cup Marsala Wine

2 Р28 oz cans of whole San Marzano Tomatoes, pur̩ed in a food processor or crushed by hand.

1 Tbsp Salt

Black Pepper

Preparation:

First, prepare your meatballs by combining all ingredients. Start with the meat, then salt and cheese, work it together then add your beaten egg and gently work the mixture and lastly add your breadcrumbs 1 Tbsp at a time until it comes together. Roll into 2 inch diameter meatballs or whatever you prefer and put into the refrigerator.

Preheat your oven to 375F/190C. Take your beef and pork ribs and salt and pepper both sides and put onto a foil lined baking sheet or directly on a griddle, then place the prepared meatballs and sausages onto the same sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.

To make your sauce, start with a large heavy duty saucepan, which will hold the heat and give you a consistent low simmer. A cast iron Le Cruset is perfect. Larger is better, as you don’t want to crowd the meat.

Heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic, onion, carrot and celery. Stir frequently and make sure to add ½ of the salt and some pepper to the mixture.

When it is sautéed and translucent, add your Marsala wine and cook until the wine is gone (about 3-4 minutes), then add the tomatoes and bring up to a soft simmer.

Once the meat is finished, gently add it into the sauce, add the rest of the salt and softly simmer uncovered for 4 hours or longer, stirring occasionally. 

Serve over your choice of pasta with grated Romano and Parmesan cheese. Optionally, you can remove the meat and serve it as a separate meat course after the pasta course.

Authentic Sunday Sauce: A Family Tradition

Sunday is a special day when the family comes together for a big meal and while each family has their own traditions of which dishes are served. In the US, the tradition of the Sunday Sauce is essential.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Servings: 8 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • Meatballs:
  • ½ lb ground Beef
  • ½ lb ground Pork
  • 2 Tbsp Grated Romano Cheese
  • 2 Tbsp Breadcrumbs I like panko breadcrumbs or plain.
  • 1 Egg beaten
  • 1 tsp Lawry’s Seasoning Salt this is my secret weapon for killer meatballs.
  • Sauce:
  • 5 Italian Sausages sweet/hot or both, cut in half.
  • 1 or 2 Beef Short Ribs depends on size. Try to find them around 3 to 4 inches; the larger ones do not fit in the pan well. You can also have the butcher cut them in half.
  • 1 or 2 Pork Ribs country style is good. Same size as above.
  • 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 4 cloves of Garlic smashed with side of knife and loosely chopped
  • 1 cup finely diced Onion
  • ½ cup finely diced Carrot
  • ½ cup finely diced Celery
  • ¼ cup Marsala Wine
  • 2 – 28 oz cans of whole San Marzano Tomatoes puréed in a food processor or crushed by hand.
  • 1 Tbsp Salt
  • Black Pepper

Equipment

  • Heavy Pot

Method
 

  1. First, prepare your meatballs by combining all ingredients. Start with the meat, then salt and cheese, work it together then add your beaten egg and gently work the mixture and lastly add your breadcrumbs 1 Tbsp at a time until it comes together. Roll into 2 inch diameter meatballs or whatever you prefer and put into the refrigerator.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375F/190C. Take your beef and pork ribs and salt and pepper both sides and put onto a foil lined baking sheet or directly on a griddle, then place the prepared meatballs and sausages onto the same sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  3. To make your sauce, start with a large heavy duty saucepan, which will hold the heat and give you a consistent low simmer. A cast iron Le Cruset is perfect. Larger is better, as you don’t want to crowd the meat.
  4. Heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic, onion, carrot and celery. Stir frequently and make sure to add ½ of the salt and some pepper to the mixture. When it is sautéed and translucent, add your Marsala wine and cook until the wine is gone (about 3-4 minutes), then add the tomatoes and bring up to a soft simmer.
  5. Once the meat is finished, gently add it into the sauce, add the rest of the salt and softly simmer uncovered for 4 hours or longer, stirring occasionally.
  6. Serve over your choice of pasta with grated Romano and Parmesan cheese. Optionally, you can remove the meat and serve it as a separate meat course after the pasta course.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!