Spaghetti and meatballs, a classic Italian-American dish, is a hearty and flavorful combination of tender spaghetti noodles, savory meatballs, and a rich tomato sauce. The meatballs are typically made with a mixture of ground beef, pork, and veal, seasoned with garlic, parsley, and oregano, and then simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. The spaghetti is cooked al dente and tossed with the meatballs and sauce, creating a delicious and satisfying meal.
This article provides two authentic Italian spaghetti and meatball recipes: a traditional recipe and a lighter, healthier version. The traditional recipe uses a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal for the meatballs, while the healthier version uses ground turkey and lean beef. Both recipes use fresh ingredients and simple techniques to create a delicious and authentic Italian dish.
In addition to the spaghetti and meatball recipes, the article also includes a recipe for a homemade tomato sauce. The sauce is made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, and olive oil, and simmered until thick and flavorful. The article also provides tips for cooking the perfect spaghetti and meatballs, including how to achieve the perfect al dente texture for the pasta and how to make sure the meatballs are cooked through without being dry.
Whether you're looking for a traditional Italian spaghetti and meatball recipe or a lighter, healthier version, this article has you covered. With easy-to-follow instructions and delicious results, these recipes are sure to become a family favorite.
REAL MEATBALLS AND SPAGHETTI
For homemade Italian comfort, make Ina Garten's Real Meatballs and Spaghetti recipe from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network, starring veal, pork and beef.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 2h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Place the ground meats, both bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg, and 3/4 cup warm water in a bowl. Combine very lightly with a fork. Using your hands, lightly form the mixture into 2-inch meatballs. You will have 14 to 16 meatballs.
- Pour equal amounts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large (12-inch) skillet to a depth of 1/4-inch. Heat the oil. Very carefully, in batches, place the meatballs in the oil and brown them well on all sides over medium-low heat, turning carefully with a spatula or a fork. This should take about 10 minutes for each batch. Don't crowd the meatballs. Remove the meatballs to a plate covered with paper towels. Discard the oil but don't clean the pan.
- For the sauce, heat the olive oil in the same pan. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through. Serve hot on cooked spaghetti and pass the grated Parmesan.
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
This authentic Italian recipe was given to me by my cousin's wife, who is from Italy. It's so hearty and satisfying, everyone's eyes light up when I tell my family that we're having this for supper! -Etta Winter, Pavillion, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 2h
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, combine the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 cup water, onion, sugar, oregano, bay leaf and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, garlic and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/4 hours., Meanwhile, soak bread in remaining water. Squeeze out excess moisture. In a large bowl, combine the bread, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining salt, garlic and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into thirty-six 1-1/2-in. meatballs. , Preheat oven to 400°. Place meatballs on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, until no longer pink, 20 minutes; drain. Transfer to spaghetti sauce. Simmer, uncovered, until heated through, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf. Serve with spaghetti; if desired, top with additional Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 373 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 123mg cholesterol, Sodium 1201mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
JENN'S OUT OF THIS WORLD SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
This authentic spaghetti and meatballs recipe is made with fresh oregano and parsley. Because the meatballs are cooked in the sauce, they are tender and savory.
Provided by JENNGOETZ
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until lightly brown. Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 1/2 the oregano, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer while preparing meatballs.
- In a bowl, mix the ground round, bread crumbs, remaining oregano, remaining garlic, parsley, eggs, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Roll into 1 inch balls, and drop into the sauce. Cook 40 minutes in the sauce, or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and stir in the spaghetti. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 571.9 calories, Carbohydrate 80.1 g, Cholesterol 86.6 mg, Fat 17 g, Fiber 7.7 g, Protein 27.7 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 1177.2 mg, Sugar 21.3 g
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Meatball recipes are often challenged by chefs who claim, "Mine are the best!" Even though my meatballs ARE the best, I will make no such claim. Try them for yourself! This meatball recipe was given to me by my father who got it from a little old lady from Italy that he knew. It's amazing that she gave up her recipe to him, but I sure am glad she did!
Provided by InMemoryofBrats
Categories Meat
Time 3h20m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl by hand.
- Use your bare hands for best results.
- Roll meatballs to about the size of a golf ball. (wet your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to them while rolling the meat balls).
- Drop raw meatballs into large (I use a stock pot) pot of sauce.
- (I have an incredible sauce recipe {#92096} I use for my meatballs).
- Simmer for about 3 hours.
SPAGHETTI WITH ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Sharon Crider sends this hearty spaghetti dinner from Junction City, Kansas. "It's one of my family's favorite recipes," she writes. "We enjoy servings of the sauce with a variety of pasta."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h35m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, cook onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, soak bread in water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cheese, garlic, basil, parsley, salt and bread. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. , In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. In batches, brown meatballs, adding more oil as needed. Remove to paper towels to drain. Add meatballs to sauce; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink. , Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Serve with meatballs and sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 385 calories, Fat 11g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 612mg sodium, Carbohydrate 49g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
Tips:
- Choose the right tomatoes. Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best flavor. If you can, use San Marzano tomatoes, which are a plum tomato variety that is particularly sweet and flavorful.
- Brown the meatballs well. This will help to develop their flavor and prevent them from falling apart in the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
- Serve the spaghetti and meatballs with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a delicious cheesy flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
This authentic Italian spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a classic for a reason. It's simple to make, yet packed with flavor. The combination of the savory meatballs, the rich tomato sauce, and the al dente spaghetti is irresistible. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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