Spaghetti and Meatballs

Name: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT2H0M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT2H30M0.000S
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 8 ounces ground pork; 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish; 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped; 1/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs (made from stale bread); 1/3 cup chicken stock, preferable homemade or low-sodium store bought; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 large eggs; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for forming meatballs; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 2 medium yellow onions, chopped; 1 large carrot, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; One 28-ounce can chopped San Marzano tomatoes; 3 quarts chicken stock, preferable homemade or low-sodium store bought; 2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with cotton string; 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped; 1 pound spaghetti; Salt

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Level: Easy
Total: 2 hr 30 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 2 hr

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Level: Easy
Total: 2 hr 30 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 2 hr

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Meatballs:

1 pound ground beef

8 ounces ground pork

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

1/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs (made from stale bread)

1/3 cup chicken stock, preferable homemade or low-sodium store bought

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 large eggs

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for forming meatballs

Gravy:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 celery ribs, chopped

2 medium yellow onions, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon tomato paste

One 28-ounce can chopped San Marzano tomatoes

3 quarts chicken stock, preferable homemade or low-sodium store bought

2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with cotton string

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 pound spaghetti

Salt

Directions

For the meatballs: In a large bowl, using your hands mix together the beef, pork, Parmesan, parsley, breadcrumbs, stock, salt, cayenne, eggs, garlic and onions until evenly combined. Be careful not to overwork the mixture; you don't want to compact the meat too much or the meatballs will be tough. Put a little oil on your hands and form loosely into golf ball size meatballs. You should have about 25.
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Gently add the meatballs and brown thoroughly on all sides; this will take about 15 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a plate, and refrigerate until you are ready to cook them in the sugo.
For the gravy: In the same pan you used to cook the meatballs, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the celery, onions and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and bay leaves and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Push the veggies to one side and add the tomato paste, toasting it on the bottom of the pan for 1 minute. Stir into the vegetables.
Add the tomatoes, chicken stock and thyme, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer very gently, partially covered, until thick and significantly reduced, about an hour.
Carefully add the meatballs, a few at a time, and simmer, stirring very gently now and then - don't break-a-ya bawls! - until cooked through, 40 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Add most of the basil and stir, reserving a little to sprinkle over the top for serving.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 8 minutes.
To serve, put the pasta into a large serving bowl. Immediately ladle sauce on top and then the meatballs. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan. Plate the remaining sauce and meatballs in a separate bowl.

My Private Notes

Show: The Best Thing I Ever Made

Episode: Pure Perfection

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