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Meatballs in sauce

17/11/2023

Meatballs in sauce are a classic of Italian cuisine, appreciated for their succulent taste and versatility. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 g of stale bread or breadcrumbs
  • 60 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Chopped fresh parsley (to taste)
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Milk (enough to soften the bread, if using)
  • Flour (for dusting the meatballs)
  • Extra virgin olive oil (for frying)

For the sauce:

  • 800 g of tomato puree
  • 1 onion
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt as needed
  • Fresh basil
  • Sugar (a pinch, to correct the acidity of the tomato if necessary)

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the meatballs. If you’re using stale bread, soak it in the milk for a few minutes and then squeeze it well. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the eggs, the stale bread (or breadcrumbs), Parmesan, parsley, finely chopped garlic (if liked), salt and pepper. Work all the ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture.

  2. Shape into walnut-sized meatballs, roll them in flour and shake off the excess.

  3. In a pan, heat plenty of oil and fry the meatballs until they are golden on all sides. Once cooked, set them aside on a plate lined with paper towels.

  4. For the sauce, in a large pan, sauté the finely chopped onion in olive oil. Once the onion has become transparent, add the tomato puree, salt, and the pinch of sugar.

  5. Let the sauce simmer for about 15-20 minutes, then add the meatballs.

  6. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes on low heat, turning the meatballs occasionally and making sure that the sauce doesn’t dry out too much (if necessary, add a bit of water).

  7. Once cooked, add the fresh basil leaves and mix gently.

Serve the meatballs in sauce hot, with country-style bread or, if you prefer, with a generous portion of pasta.

Enjoy your meal!

Curiosity

Did you know that meatballs in sauce are also a great way to recycle leftovers of meat or bread? In the past, they were a typical recipe of the so-called “poor cooking,” where nothing was wasted, and what was available was used. Today they have become a dish loved by all and often the star of Sunday family tables.

Meatballs in sauce