This tasty meatball recipe is my favorite because of the mixture of flavor packed meats and spices.
If you have watched my videos before you know I love pasta. This is one of my favorite pasta recipes. It is a little different from most meatball and sauce recipes. It has some special ingredients.
Let’s start by making our sauce. Start by preparing your 3 cloves of garlic. Thinly slice them.
Pour 1/3 cup of olive oil into a large oven proof pan. I am actually using an oil that is seasoned with garlic and Chipotle peppers. Add your garlic to the oil and brown for 30 seconds.
Add your garlic to the oil and brown for 30 seconds. Then add two 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes.
Add ½ cup of dry red wine. Bring this mixture to a boil and then simmer to reduce the wine and cook out the alcohol. The flavors will remain in our sauce.
Now lets add some spices: 1 tsp. oregano, ½ tsp. crushed red pepper, and 1 tsp. of salt. Also ½ tsp. of cinnamon. Stir that in and let your sauce cook for 1 hour. We will later add the secret ingredient.
Lets make our meatballs!
Start by cutting 2 slices of bacon into small pieces and then brown it.
In a large bowl, add ½ lb. of ground pork or lamb and 1 lb. of ground beef.
Add ½ cup of parmesan cheese, grated or shredded. Add ¾ cup of bread crumbs.
I make my own with my leftover stale bread run through the processor. Then I just store it in a jar in the freezer.
Add ½ tsp. crushed red pepper or cayenne, 1 ½ tsp. of oregano, 1 tsp. fennel seeds, 1/8 tsp. of freshly ground pepper and 1 tsp. of salt. Now add your bacon bits that have cooled down. You will want to add 1 clove of garlic that is minced or pressed. Now add ½ cup of flat leaf parsley that has been chopped.
Lets try and mix this up some with a fork. This is just a prelude to when I get my hands into the mixture. Okay here we go! I love this part. It is like playing with clay. It feels really good! Now it is time to add two eggs to the mixture. Lets not forget the ¼ cup of dry red wine. WELL maybe just a little more. Now mix it well! And yes I am not going to miss the opportunity to handle the meat again!
It is now well mixed and time to make our meatballs. I make them about 2 inches in diameter. Now once all the meat has been made into balls put 3 tbsp. of olive oil into a large skillet. When the oil is hot add the meatballs and brown them on all sides.
Now the secret ingredient!
Dark Chocolate. Add two oz. to the sauce.
Now put your meatballs into the sauce. Make sure they are covered with sauce.
Then you are going to braise the meatballs and sauce in a 285F oven for 2 hours.
Put a cover on the pan.
During the last 30 minutes of the braising of the sauce you will need to start your pasta. I always like to cook my pasta to al dente.
After 2 hours our meatballs and sauce are finished. Put the spaghetti in a bowl, top it with the meatballs and sauce. Add fresh basil and shredded parmesan cheese. Get your glass of wine and Let’s Eat!
Recipe
My Favorite Meatball Recipe
Servings: 4-6
1 lb. ground beef
2 slices of hickory smoked bacon cut into small pieces
1 clove of garlic minced
½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
3 tbsp. olive oil
½ lb. ground pork
2 eggs
½ cup flat leaf parsley chopped
¾ cup stale bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
1 ½ tsp oregano
¼ cup red wine
Start with making the sauce recipe below. Mix dry ingredients well. Then combine thoroughly the eggs and wine to the mixture. Form into two inch round balls. Brown in olive oil for about 10 minutes. When sauce recipe has simmered for about an hour add the meatballs. Cover and braise in the oven at 285 degrees for about 2 hours. Serve over pasta topped with parmesan.
Meatball Sauce Recipe
1/3 cup olive oil
Two 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup dry red wine
3 cloves of garlic sliced
½ tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 oz. dark chocolate
¼ cup torn basil
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic to medium low heat and cook 30 seconds. Then add the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate and basil. Simmer for 1 hour, then add the chocolate and basil and follow the instructions above for braising with the meatballs.
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