Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
Meatballs:
½ lb lean ground pork
½ lb lean ground beef
½ lb lean ground veal
¾ - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon chili flakes
Salt and Freshly Ground black pepper to taste
Sauce:
2 660mL Jars Passata (strained tomatoes)
1 onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional ingredients:
1 red, green or yellow bell pepper finely diced
1 zucchini diced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
Instructions
Step 1
In a deep saucepan or Dutch Oven heat olive oil over medium heat.
Step 2
Add onion and garlic and optional ingredients (if using) and saute until softened and the mushrooms (if using) have released most of their liquid, stirring frequently.
Step 3
Add the Passata (strained tomatoes) and mix well. Cover and simmer over medium heat.
Step 4
Combine the meatball ingredients and form into meatballs. Small meatballs for a pasta dish, or larger meatballs for a meatball sub.
Step 5
Carefully drop the uncooked meatballs into the simmering sauce.
Step 6
Cover the pot and simmer over medium low heat for 1 ½ hours or until meatballs are thoroughly cooked.
Serving suggestions:
1. Serve over your favourite cooked pasta
2. Serve in Italian style buns with provolone cheese for a meatball sub