Ingredients: |
Ingredients: Sauce:
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3-4 garlic cloves, diced
2 14.5 oz. cans of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes
2 14.5 oz. cans of Hunt's Tomato Sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
2-3 stems of fresh basil leaves (tear by hand)
Meatballs:
1.5 lb. ground beef
1.5 lb. ground pork
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, diced
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 c. whole milk
4 slices Texas Toast (crust removed)
1 large egg
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
1 package of sliced Mozzarella Cheese
1 sm ball of fresh Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 c. Parmigiano-Reggiano
Extra virgin olive oil
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Directions: |
Directions:Sauce Step 1:
Cook onion, garlic and spices in olive oil until soft. Add tomatoes and basil and cook on low-medium heat for a minimum of one hour.
Meatball Step 2:
Cook onion, garlic and parsley in olive oil until soft. Set aside and allow to cool while mixing the meat mixture. Pour the milk over the Texas Toast and allow the bread to absorb the milk. Mix the beef, pork, egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and spices with the cooled onions mix and the soaked bread. Mix all together by hand. In order for the meatballs to be tender, be gentle with the mixture. Make individual meatballs and cook on medium heat in a large skillet for 5-6 minutes per side. Do not crowd the meatballs in the skillet. Cook in batches and place cooked meatballs in a container until all the meat mixture is cooked. If middle of meatball is pink, it will continue to cook when mixed with the sauce and cheese in the oven for the baking step.
Baking Step 3:
Place all meatballs back into the skillet. Using half of the tomato sauce, cover the meatballs. Spread the soft, fresh Mozzarella over meatballs and then layer the sliced Mozzarella. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano and lastly, sprinkle a little more olive oil.
Bake in a 350º oven until the tomato sauce bubbles and the cheese slightly browns.
While baking the meatballs, cook your pasta of choice (I use Angel Hair pasta). Serve the pasta with some of the remaining tomato sauce and place 2-3 meatballs and cheese on top. Serve with another sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano and a few basil leaves. |
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