Meatballs in Tomato Sauce (Polpette al Sugo)
If you're looking for a delicious Italian recipe, you've got to try Meatballs in Tomato Sauce. Made with beef and pork, these meatballs are browned and then cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce!
Servings 4
Ingredients
For The Meatballs
- 10.5 ounces minced beef
- 3.5 ounces Italian sausage
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated; more for serving
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon parsley, dried or fresh; more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
For The Sauce
- 2 cups tomato passata
- 1/4 cup water, more if needed
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the casing from the Italian sausages and break them up slightly.
- Crack the egg in a large bowl and whisk with a fork. Add the minced beef, Italian sausages, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, salt, black pepper and nutmeg to the bowl. Mix until well combined. If the mixture is overly wet, add a few more breadcrumbs.
- With clean hands, form the meatballs (as big or small as you like; I prefer medium-sized). They should all be about the same size.
- In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides.
- Once all the meatballs are browned, add the tomato passata, water, salt, oregano and black pepper. Mix well and cook over low heat, covered with a lid, for about 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly. Check frequently and add a bit more water if needed.
- Serve the meatballs in tomato sauce with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and more grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Make sure the meatballs are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the meatballs.
- For more cheesy goodness, you can add a slice of mozzarella cheese in the middle of the meatballs.
- If you're not a fan of cheese, you can omit it completely (parmesan and mozzarella). In that case, you may want to adjust the amount of salt and spices.
- These meatballs should be soft but firm and the consistency of the sauce should be rather thick, not soupy.
Nutrition
Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 1338mg | Potassium: 871mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 862IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 5mg
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
