Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups plain bread crumbs
- 3/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Gravy (sauce):
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 (28-ounce) cans ground tomatoes
- 3/4 (28-ounce) can water (from empty ground tomato can), or 21 ounces water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
For the meatballs: Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in a large bowl. Mix well. Form about 16 meatballs and place on a platter. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and fry meatballs over medium heat until browned. Repeat until all meatballs are browned. Place meatballs on new clean platter. Do not discard the oil.
For the Gravy: In the skillet, heat the reserved oil, add the onion and garlic and saute for approximately 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Fill the empty tomato paste can full of water, add to the skillet, and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Remove from heat and set aside.
In an 8-quart saucepan, add the ground tomatoes and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Fill the empty ground tomato can 3/4 full of water and add to the saucepan, along with the tomato paste mixture from the skillet and the reserved browned meatballs. Mix thoroughly but carefully with a wooden spoon so as to not break the meatballs. Add the salt, ground pepper, and parsley and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes, then cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking and burning on bottom of pan. Serve over al dente pasta and sprinkle with some grated Pecorino Romano cheese, along with crusty Italian bread and a good bottle of red wine.


















Review This Recipe
You must be signed in to review this recipe.
or Register to Review
Newest Ratings and Reviews
Read all 70 reviews
By suetaylor1_12701819
Vernon
on November 20, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
this is great for creating a great base sauce, like a blank canvas you need to jazz up a bit. I found it helpful, then called mom to check what else to add :
By christinadlg
Austin, TX
on September 25, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
This recipe is amazing. My dad makes it whenever all the kids come home for the holidays, it's a family favorite!
By memere'skitchen
on September 12, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
This is the best authentic Italian recipe I have ever come across for traditional "Gravy and Meatballs". Frankie's recipe will now be our family tradition. This is the recipe I will pass on to my children. The gravy is perfect and the meatballs are tender and delicious! Thank you for sharing your family recipe, Frankie. It certainly is a winner in our family and I see why Emeril chose this recipe.
Read all 70 reviews