Grilled Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds spaghetti
• Meatballs in BBQ Gravy, recipe follows
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons scallions, thinly sliced
• Grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat a grill on medium-high heat.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook pasta about half way according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and toss lightly with olive oil. Using a grill grate, grill the pasta over medium-high heat for about 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the grilled pasta to a serving platter and spoon BBQ Gravy over the top. Place meatballs over the top and around the perimeter of the platter and top with more Gravy. Sprinkle with the sliced scallions and grated Parmesan.

Chef's Notes: You will need a grill grate for this recipe.

Meatballs in BBQ Gravy:

For the gravy:

• 1 pound bacon, sliced into lardons
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 glasses Chianti
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo
• 3 (28-ounce) cans chopped tomatoes
• Sea salt, preferable grey
• Freshly ground black pepper

For the meatballs:

• 1 pound ground sirloin
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan, freshly grated
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped basil leaves
• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup fine dried bread crumbs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Sea salt, preferably grey
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup water

Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat for 1 minute. When the oil is hot, add the bacon and render. When golden brown and beginning to crisp, add minced carrot, celery, onion, and garlic. Add a pinch of salt and saute vegetables to a light brown. Add rosemary and brown sugar and stir. Add Chianti and vinegar to pot, stir and bring to boil. Add the tomato paste, chipotles in adobo, and the chopped tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, skimming the top occasionally to remove any scum that forms.

While the BBQ gravy is simmering, make the meatballs:

In a large bowl, mix together the meat, egg, Worcestershire, cheese, parsley, oregano, basil, onion, bread crumbs, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup of water. Knead the water into the meat mixture with your hands. Knead and roll meatballs into about 1 1/2-inch balls. Place them in shallow saucepan on stove, add another 1/2 cup of water over them, and cover. Turn heat to medium, and steam for 35 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the meatballs from the pan. Drain the juice out of the bottom of the pan, return the meatballs to it and cover them with warm BBQ gravy. Serve on top of Grilled Spaghetti.

Chef's Notes: Serve the BBQ meatballs with grilled spaghetti for a new smoky twist on spaghetti and meatballs.