A note: Canned tomatoes? Yes, I use canned tomatoes. In fact, the Italian San Marzano tomatoes are quite easy to find, and are absolutely delicious in many applications. These canned gems are a staple item in my pantry, and make a great sauce.
Pasta Arrabiata with Meatballs
For the Sauce:
(Recipe makes about 1 cup sauce)
1 28oz. can, San Marzano Tomatoes
2 cloves Garlic, smashed
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. Fennel seed
1/2 tsp. dried Oregano
1/2 tsp. dried Basil leaves
1 Bay leaf
1/4 cup red wine
1 T. brown sugar
2 T. Capers, drained, rinsed
2 t. Olives (any kind you wish) drained, rinsed, rough chopped
Simmer tomatoes, garlic, herbs, spices, wine, and sugar on low.
When most of the liquid has evaporated, remove from heat.
Remove bay leaf and break up garlic cloves with your spoon (or remove if you desire.)
Stir in capers and olives.
Season to taste.
For the Meatballs:
(Recipe makes about 20 1" diameter meatballs)
1 lb. meat (beef, pork, veal or any combination of the three)
2 oz. hot Sopresata, diced (or Salami, Pepperoni, etc.)
1/4 cup Parmigiano cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
3 cloves Garlic, minced
2 sprigs, Thyme, removed from stem and minced
1 sprig, Rosemary, removed from stem and minced
Pulse meat and Sopresata in a food processor until combined.
Add in bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper.
Pulse to combine.
Remove a piece of the mixture and cook. Taste. This is really the best (and only) way to check the seasoning of raw meat products.
Adjust seasoning accordingly.
Remove from food processor and roll meatballs between your hands to shape.
(Freeze any unused meatball mix for up to two months.)
Saute meatballs (5-7 per person) in olive oil to brown, then add in about 2 oz. of sauce per person and a little red wine and simmer to finish meatballs.
Add in a small handful of cooked pasta per person (I used linguine, use whatever you like) and toss to coat.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly grated Parmigiano and a nice hunk of toasted bread.
Enjoy!
2 comments:
You have unearthed my guilty pleasure dish. I have always, ALWAYS loved every spaghetti w meatballs dish I have ever been served - dry, moist, or otherwise. I simply can't get enough and, cruel fate trapping me in a family for years where my love was unshared? I have such a huge spaghetti/meatball deficit built up that I am using your photo as my desktop now.
This looks perfecto and I will use your approach in the weeks to come to try and convert the OtherEater in this house. Fingers/spaghetti strands crossed!
I too am a big meatball fan. My first fine dining (trying to be, anyway, more pseudo-fine dining) waiting gig was at an italian restaurant, that only served spaghetti and meatballs on sunday night. they were really fucking good.
on the canned tomatoes, you're way better off eating those, than trying to find a tomato that tastes like anything more than cellulose right now. maybe next summer I'll be smart enough to can some of my own tomatoes for over winter use...
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