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Real Meatballs and Spaghetti

Ina Garten

Copyright, 2002, Barefoot Contessa Family Style, All Rights Reserved

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Boss for Dinner

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (277)

  • Cook Time:

    1 hr 20 min

  • Level:

    Intermediate

  • Yield:

    6 servings

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Times:

Prep
40 min
Inactive Prep
--
Cook
1 hr 20 min
Total:
2 hr 0 min
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Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1/2 pound ground veal
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup fresh white bread crumbs (4 slices, crusts removed)
  • 1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 extra-large egg, beaten
  • Vegetable oil
  • Olive oil

For the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon good olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup good red wine, such as Chianti
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, or plum tomatoes in puree, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For serving:

  • 1 1/2 pounds spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
  • Freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

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.

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Read more Comments & Reviews (277)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    Bridgett Lolo, MT 02-08-2010

    Flag

    Amazing meatballs

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    This is my husband's new favorite dish, and I have to say these are the best meatballs I have ever had as well. I would... suggest doubling the sauce portion of the recipe, there never seems to be enough sauce. I also add a teaspoon or two of oregano to the sauce and cook it for at least an hour. This is a time-consuming recipe, but well worth the effort, I have made it 4 times and it has been delicious each time. Read more
  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    H SAN RAFAEL, CA 01-28-2010

    Flag

    DELICIOUS

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I loved this recipe. I don't think it looks like the picture in the advertisement for this recipe though. A lot less sauce... and lighter than depicted in the picture. I followed the recipe to a tee. I always do that when I first make it, then I change it, if I make it a second time and make it to my taste. Aside from that, it was delicious. And I'm going to make it again, I might put in a few more tomatoes, but no changes other than that. The sauce is very, very simple and does not detract from the meatballs, which is the star of the dish.Read more
  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    madalyn richmond, KY 01-27-2010

    Flag

    Needs to be tweeked!

    Rated: 3 stars out of 5
    I found this recipe to be way too salty and it has an odd flavor. This is the first recipe that I have made of Ina's that was... very disappointing.Read more
  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    mary Buffalo, NY 01-25-2010

    Flag

    Nobody Does it Better than Ina!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I love Ina and the food network. This recipe is delicious. I love making Ina's recipe's because they uniformly are... successful. this recipe makes a great, deep sauc(especially given the short cooking time) and, the meatballs are delicious. I am a busy doctor, and, I trust, trust Ina's recipes! I have made everything from her chicken to her espresso cheesecake, which was the star of our family holidays! My family all love you, Ina, and, my nurses and staff as welll!!!! Dr. MaryRead more
  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    christina chicago, IL 01-24-2010

    Flag

    Everyone Requests I Make This

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I woke up and watched this episode lying in bed last year and it made me so hungry. I got up went to buy the ingredients came... home and cooked it for four. Every since then I keep getting requests for it. Which is great but its alot of work, lol. Anyway, it was big hit. Ill be cooking this for years to come.Read more
  • recipe Real Meatballs and Spaghetti
    Robyn Blacklick, OH 01-24-2010

    Flag

    Molto delizioso!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Incredible! I made dinner for a friend who just had a baby, and the meatballs were the star of the meal. My husband and I had... them as well for dinner. Very moist and very tasty!! I had leftovers and used later in the week for meatball subs -- yummy!!! Nice work, Ina!Read more
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