A secret family recipe that now you can make too. No need to go to the Italian restaurant to enjoy these classic meatballs. Make them at home in the comfort of your own home and enjoy the restaurant-style Italian flavors. You will make this your go-to mea
Meatballs:
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1 cu. pecorino cheese, grated
1 cu. Parmesan cheese, grated
3 tbl. parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 loaf bread, bakery style
1 cu. milk
4 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Gravy:
1 10.6 oz. can tomatoes, pureed
4 1/2 oz. tomato paste
1 medium onion, diced small
5 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 cu. red wine
3 links sweet Italian sausage
3 links spicy Italian sausage
1/2 lb. beef short rib
Gravy:
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the short ribs all over in 2 tsp. of olive oil. Once browned, remove from heat and set aside.
Using the same pot, toast the garlic until golden-brown. Add the onion, cooking until it's soft and translucent.
Add the tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes. Add the red wine, and reduce the mixture until it becomes a paste. Put in the pureed tomatoes, and return the short ribs to the pot. Simmer for about 1 to 2 hours, or until the ribs are tender.
Add the cooked meatballs (with their juices) and the sausage links. Season with salt and sugar.
Simmer for 30 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil.
Meatballs:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Scoop out the interior of the bread, and give it a rough chop, you don't want any crust. Soak the inside parts of the bread in milk until they're soft. Squeeze the milk out of the soaked bread, and discard the milk.
In a large bowl, combine soaked bread pieces with the remaining ingredients, gently mix to incorporate them. Let the mixture sit for 10-20 minutes, covered. This step is important to mix the flavors!
Form the meat mixture into balls, place on a baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes.
Place meatballs in gravy and simmer for about 30 minutes to let flavors combine. Garnish with a little Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Serve with your favorite pasta and enjoy!