Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)

Recipe courtesy Frank Imbergamo, Medford, MA

Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Emeril's Italian Contest

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (72)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(72)

Cook Time:
3 hr 0 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
16 servings

Times:

Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 3 hr 0 min
Total:: 3 hr 20 min

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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

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.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
Julie Hudson, MA 10-12-2009
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Best sauce ever
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This sauce is the best basic sauce ever. You can personalize it to your liking so easily. My family loves garlic, so I do... add more garlic than what it calls for in the recipe. I also add oregano and basil. Also, I make smaller meatballs and get about 40. This is great for me since I will make a batch for Girl Scout functions or pot luck dinners. Everyone loves it. My family loves to not only eat it, but they pitch in and help make it. This recipe will be passed down for generations in my family!!! Thanks Frank for submitting your recipe.Read more
recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
Bryan Johnstown, PA 10-02-2009
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Wonderful, outstanding, one word of caution though
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The recipe was awesome, big thanks Frank and the FN for bringing Frank's creation to light. A big round of applause from our... family. One word of caution though, the sauce is a bit sweet for my tastes. I knew it would be when I started simmering the sauce so I doubled the garlic (only try this if you love garlic), and I added more parsley than the original recipe called for to try and tone down the sweetness. I cut the meatballs into 1/4s before adding them to the sauce so they would be a little more size friendly. We are going to can our leftover sauce and save it for later. I am considering doing up another batch in a couple of weekends strictly to can. It think this will work well. Read more
recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
a chester, NY 04-05-2009
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Ciao Bellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllla!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

THIS SAUCE WAS SO DELICIOUSO!!!!! WE CALL IT GRAVEY!!!! LOL....IT WAS JUST LIKE MY MOM"S...FRANK THANK YOU ....!!!!!
recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
Rrobert Roslindale, MA 11-12-2008
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My Mummy would think it was yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The only difference between Frank?s sauce and the sauce my Mother used to make was she wore an apron, had a big wooden spoon... and stirred the pot all day Saturday. In the sauce were meatballs, chicken and sausage. I can still smell that great aroma. My sister and I would finish half a loaf of bread dipping it in the pot to make sure it was just right. Everyone?s taste is not the same so sometimes we would add a little more of this and maybe a pinch less of that. In the end it was like Frank?s A work of art for the stomach Those really were the good old days. Thanks Frank, keep them coming. Read more
recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
Becky Lake Hopatcong, NJ 11-10-2008
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Great Classic Italian Meal
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My fiance and I have been using this recipe for the last few years. There is no other sauce/gravy recipe that compares. ... It's even better than both of our mother's recipe and that's saying alot! I highly reccomend this to anyone who wants to make a great Italian classic! If you have the time to make it, it's well worth it!Read more
recipe Frank's Italian Sauce (Spaghetti Sauce)
Anonymous 08-27-2008
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This is real gravy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This sauce is great. It is what sauce should taste like. Be prepared though, the meatballs are very large. I actually got... 20 and only used about 1 3/4 lbs of meat. Very simple recipe, very little preparatation but a lot of flavor!!Read more