Family Meal Spaghetti With Ricotta Meatballs With Pecorino Garlic Bread Food

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook until soft, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Whisk together the Parmesan, parsley, oregano, eggs, 3 tablespoons cold water, the sauteed garlic and onions and some salt and pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add the chuck and pork and gently mix together until combined. Begin adding breadcrumbs a few tablespoons at a time until the mixture just holds together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. The longer you let the mixture sit, the more the flavor develops.
• For the fresh pasta: In a food processor, combine the flour and eggs. Pulse until it comes together as a dough. Remove and knead until smooth. Let rest for at least 30 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Increase the heat to high, add the tomatoes and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning (adding a pinch of sugar if needed) and stir in the basil.
• Form the meatball mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Heat the remaining 1 cup of oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the meatballs and fry until golden brown on all sides.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking until the meatballs have cooked through and the sauce has thickened more, about 15 minutes longer.
• To cook the pasta, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt.
• Roll out the dough in portions using a pasta roller. Cut out spaghetti using a pasta cutter and place the fresh pasta on a tray lined with parchment.
• Boil the pasta until al dente, 1 to 2 minutes. Toss the pasta with some of the warm sauce and a little bit of pasta water in a saute pan.
• Transfer the sauced pasta to a platter and top with the meatballs (using a slotted spoon). Ladle the remaining tomato sauce over the spaghetti and meatballs. Dollop ricotta on top and grate lots of Parmesan over the top. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs and parsley leaves.

FAMILY MEAL: SPAGHETTI WITH RICOTTA MEATBALLS WITH PECORINO GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Before You Cook Turn oven on to 375 degrees. Let preheat, at least 10 minutes Bring a medium pot of water to a boil If using any fresh produce, thoroughly rinse and pat dry Prepare a baking sheet with foil Be sure to scrape out all the cream sauce from the carton; some might stick! Separation is natural when shipping liquid eggs. Shake well before using. Cooking Guidelines To ensure food safety, the FDA recommends the following as minimum internal cooking temperatures: Steak and Pork 145° F (rest cooked meat, 3 minutes) | Seafood 145° F | Chicken 165° F | Ground Beef 160° F | Ground Turkey 165° F | Ground Pork 160° F 1 Prepare the Ingredients Finely mince garlic and divide into three equal piles. Stem and mince parsley. Halve baguette lengthwise. 2 Form the Meatballs Thoroughly combine ground beef, liquid egg, ricotta cheese, half the pecorino cheese (reserve remaining for garlic bread), breadcrumbs, parsley (reserve a pinch for garnish), 1/3 the garlic, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a mixing bowl. Divide and shape mixture into ten meatballs roughly the size of ping-pong balls. 3 Sear the Meatballs Heat a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp. olive oil and meatballs to hot pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 6-9 minutes. 4 Make the Sauce Add half the remaining garlic to hot pan with meatballs and cook until aromatic, 30 seconds. Add marinara sauce and 1/4 cup water to pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until meatballs reach a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees, 8-10 minutes. If marinara sauce appears too thick, add up to 1/2 cup water to loosen. 5 Make Pasta and Garlic Bread Season boiling water with a large pinch of salt. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, 9-10 minutes. Drain in colander and toss with 1 tsp. olive oil. While pasta cooks, combine 1 Tbsp. olive oil, remaining garlic, and remaining pecorino (reserve a generous pinch for garnish) in a small bowl. Spread mixture on cut sides of baguette, place on baking sheet, and bake until golden brown, 6-9 minutes. 6 Plate the Dish Place a portion of pasta in a large bowl. Top with sauce and arrange meatballs on top. Garnish with reserved pecorino cheese and parsley. Serve with garlic bread.

CLASSIC SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Tomato Sauce:
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-low. Cook garlic, stirring occasionally, until a few pieces are golden brown around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add basil sprigs and stir to wilt. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, and their juices; season with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and flavors have concentrated, 60-75 minutes.
• Meatballs and assembly:
• Run bread under cold running water until completely soaked. Firmly wring out to expel as much water as possible. Finely chop, then mix in a large bowl with eggs, garlic, ricotta, prosciutto, parsley, and 1/3 cup Parmesan.
• Finely grind fennel seeds in spice mill or with mortar and pestle; add to bread mixture along with oregano, nutmeg, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and 1 1/4 tsp. salt. Mix well (it should resemble a coarse, wet paste). Add beef and break up into small pieces (a couple of forks work well). Mix gently with your hands until smooth and ingredients are evenly incorporated; be careful not to overmix.
• Lightly oil your hands. Working one at a time, scoop out portions of meat mixture with a 1/4-cup measuring cup; roll gently between your hands into balls. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet.
• This is the point where you should get the sauce reheating, if needed, so it's warm by the time you add the meatballs.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium. Add half of the meatballs and cook, turning and rolling occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Add meatballs to warm sauce. Repeat with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and remaining meatballs.
• Cook meatballs in sauce (they should be mostly submerged) at a gentle simmer, carefully scraping bottom of pot and adding a splash of water if sauce begins to stick, until meatballs are cooked through and tender and sauce tastes rich and meaty, 40-50 minutes.
• Transfer meatballs to a clean baking sheet; cover with foil to keep warm. Pluck out and discard basil from sauce. Use a potato masher or immersion blender to break up any large pieces of tomato and smooth out sauce. Transfer 2 cups sauce to a small bowl; set aside for serving.
• Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Using tongs, transfer to pot with sauce. Gently stir, adding pasta cooking liquid by the tablespoonful as needed, until sauce coats pasta. Transfer spaghetti to a serving dish and top with meatballs and 1 cup reserved sauce. Sprinkle with more Parmesan and serve with some basil (if using) and remaining sauce alongside for topping.
• Do Ahead:
• Sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Meatballs can be formed 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Meatballs can be cooked in sauce 3 days ahead; let cool, then cover and chill.