Fresh pasta and homemade meatballs will make this dish the star of your dinner table.
Directions for: Pasta di Polpette
Ingredients
Meatballs2 lb(s) finely ground beef
cup finely chopped sundried tomato
1 medium red onion, finely grated
cup chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp each salt and pepper
Olive oil
Sauce3 cloves garlic, halved
cup olive oil
1 (56-oz) can tomato puree
cup fresh chopped basil
16 - 20 oz fresh penne noodles
cup Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
Directions
Meatballs1. In a large bowl, stir together ground beef, sundried tomatoes, red onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
2. Using a small ice cream scoop, divide mixture into about 20 meatballs, each ball around 1 ounces.
3. Place meatballs on a baking tray and cover with metal foil; refrigerate for about 30 minutes, to set.
4. Preheat oven to 550F.
5. Place covered baking sheet into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes.
6. Remove meatballs from the oven and set oven to broil.
7. Drain excess liquid from the baking sheet and drizzle olive oil over the meatballs; place meatballs back into the oven to broil for 3 minutes, or until browned.
8. Remove meatballs from the oven and set aside to rest while you cook the sauce.
Sauce1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Stir in a pinch of salt.
2. In a second large pot, combine garlic and olive oil.
3. Cook and stir garlic over medium heat until garlic is lightly golden, about 2 or 3 minutes.
4. Stir in tomato puree, basil, and a pinch each of salt, and pepper.
5. Bring mixture to a boil; cover, and lower heat to low, and simmer for at least 1 hour, or until sauce thickens and darkens in colour.
6. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
7. While meatballs are simmering, add noodles to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes, until pasta is soft but still firm.
8. Drain noodles; add noodles to the sauce once meatballs are done simmering.
9. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the sauce and pasta.
10. Portion pasta into bowls and serve.
Source and Credits
Courtesy of Chris Beard of 850 Degrees Pizzeria
See more: Bake, Beef, Cheese, Comfort Food, Herbs, Italian, Pasta, Tomatoes