Sep 19, 2023

Lady and the Tramp Would Be Proud.

Spaghetti and Meatballs. Who came up with it? So, we did a little digging to solve the mystery and also share a scrumptious dish with you.

To solve the mystery, we turned to several Food News outlets. We came upon a writer and food news post called Gamero Rosso for the answer. So, before we share a great recipe, we thought it would be cool to see what the experts say about the popular dish Spaghetti and Meatballs.

"Spaghetti and meatballs: is it really an insult to Italian cuisine? For years the famous (or infamous?) spaghetti and meatballs, ubiquitous in the United States, especially in Little Italy restaurants, have represented one of the many false myths of Italian gastronomy abroad, like fettuccine Alfredo, which are actually very Italian, born in Rome thanks to Alfredo Di Lelio in 1908 in his mother Angelina's restaurant in Piazza Rosa, where Galleria Alberto Sordi shopping hall stands today. The popularity of the dish, in this case, came a few years later thanks to the meeting with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, silent film stars who tasted the dish in the restaurant in via della Scrofa opened by Alfredo in 1914. A similar case, albeit with the necessary differences, is spaghetti with meatballs, made famous by the 1955 Disney classic "Lady and the Tramp." Quoting a story from the Gambero Rosso page.

Ok enough of the history lesson. Let's get to a really, really good recipe I'm anxious to share with you.

It's one I took from different sources and did a little tweaking. As always, I like to get all my ingredients prepped and everything I need put in order, so cooking is made easier.

One tip. Use Fresh ingredients whenever you can.

Here is what you’ll need for the Meatballs.

1. One long loaf of Italian bread.

2. Two yellow onions.

3. Two garlic Cloves

4. One and half pounds of 90/10 ground Sirloin.

5. One and half pounds of 80/20 ground pork.

6. Four eggs.

7. Fresh Parsley

8. Rosemary.

9. Fresh basil.

10. Fresh parmesan Cheese.

11. Coarse sea salt.

12. Fresh black pepper.

Here is what you’ll need for the pasta sauce.

1. Spaghetti. Because I’m working to lose weight. I use veggie-based pasta. Half the calories just as good.

2. Half of white onion.

3. Four fresh garlic cloves.

4. Fresh mushrooms with stems.

5. Fresh parsley.

6. I Coarse sea salt

7. Fresh black pepper.

8. Fresh Parm cheese.

9. Small can of tomato paste.

10. Small can of Whole tomatoes.

11. Small can of tomato sauce.

12. Red flake peppers.

12. Chicken broth.

Ok let’s start with meatballs.

1. Take two thirds slice of bread put it in a deep pan and cover with water. Place a plate or something on top of bread to keep it submerged in the water for three to four minutes.

2. Take two small yellow onions and finely dice. Put in a large bowl.

3. Take two garlic cloves and dice. And the garlic to the bowl of onions.

4. Now take the soaking bread and break off handfuls of it. Squeeze as much water out each time adding the bread to your bowl.

5. Take you sirloin and pork and put in bowl.

6. Add four eggs to that bowl.

7. Now add parsley, basil and rosemary to bowl to taste I use more than less.

8. Add a cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

9. Add salt and pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.

Ok mix very well with clean hand. Really mix well. Very important.

Now take a large or three small flat trays, I use the smaller ones because I freeze the meatballs I don’t use. Scoop out the product using and ice cream scoop. Using level scoops so each meatball is the same size.

Place the meatballs on parchment paper lined trays. Preheat oven to 425 degrees bake for 30 minutes.

Now for pasta. And my sauce.

1. Large frying pan. Put olive oil and a tablespoon spoon of butter. 2. Melt your butter. 3. Add your diced white onion and sauté. 4. Add your garlic and continue to sauté 5. Slice your mushrooms up and place in pan continue to sauté. At this point you want to add a half pound of ground sirloin in with your onions and mushrooms as a meat base for the sauce. Brown in your mixture. 6. Add a little more salt and pepper stir in. 7. Add tomato paste stir in add a bit of water, use the can, stir a bit more. Add a bit of chicken broth and stir it all in well. Reduce heat. 8. Now add your whole tomatoes and cut into them while cooking making them several pieces. 9. Add more salt, pepper and parm cheese and a tad of red pepper flakes. 10. Once cooked add in fresh chopped parsley. Reduce heat to a simmer put on lid.

Cooking your pasta can be going on as well.

1. Boil water add salt black pepper a little butter and olive oil. 2. Add pasta once water is boiling. Do not break your pasta in half. Just work the pasta in water. Cook for nine minutes to an aldente. Drain water out put pasta back in bowl by itself with a lid.

Now meatballs should be baked. This is option. You don’t have to do this step. Heat up some oil in a frying pan and place the meatballs in the hot oil for three minutes turning them until they get a slight crust. Take them out and place them in your sauce mixture cover and cook for three to four more minutes. Or just take them from the oven and cook in sauce without frying. Then remove the meatballs put them aside and replace them with your pasta in the saucepan. Turn the pasta until it’s well coated. Do not break the noodles.

Now get your plates ready. I put butter salt and pepper and parm cheese on the plate first as a base.

Now take tongs and grab some pasta and with a twisting move place it on your plates. Mounding the pasta. Now grab one, two or three meatballs. I used one. Place on pasta, add another layer of freshly grated parm cheese and parsley.