Copycat Fazolis Meatball Food

RAO'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine beef, veal and pork in a large bowl. Add eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic and salt & pepper to taste. Using your hands, blend ingredients together. Blend breadcrumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add water, 1 cup at a time, at a time until the mixture is quite moist.
• Shape meat mixture into 6 oz. balls.
• In a large sauté pan, add oil and heat over medium-high heat until hot, but not smoking. Fry meatballs in batches. When bottom of meatball is very brown and slightly crisp, turn and cook top half. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain.
• Once meatballs have drained any excess oil, place meatballs into simmering Rao's Homemade® Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are hot through and through.
• If serving a meatball sub, while meatballs are cooking in the Rao's Homemade® Marinara Sauce, horizontally slice Italian bread and remove inner bread by hand and lightly toast, add 3 meatballs, placing a dollop of sauce over each meatball and serve.

PASTA FAZOOL (PASTA E FAGIOLI)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown sausage while breaking it into small pieces, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced celery and chopped onion. Cook until onions are translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add dry pasta. Cook and stir 2 minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste until evenly distributed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 3 cups broth. Raise heat to high and bring to a simmer. Add salt, black pepper, pepper flakes, and oregano. When soup comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and let it simmer about 5 minutes, stirring often. Check soup consistency and add more broth, if needed.
• Place chopped chard in a bowl. Cover with cold water and rinse the leaves; any grit will fall to the bottom of the bowl. Transfer chard to colander to drain briefly; add to soup. Cook and stir until leaves wilt, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in white beans; continue cooking and stirring until pasta is perfectly cooked, another 4 or 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.