Sauce with meatballs & italian sausage

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
5poundsItalian plum tomatoes peeled, coarsely chopped
1largeOnion; minced
4Garlic cloves; minced
¼cupFresh Italian parsley chopped
¼cupFresh basil; chopped
2tablespoonsFresh oregano; chopped
½cupDry red wine
1teaspoonSugar
1tablespoonSalt; or to taste
1teaspoonHungarian paprika
2Bay leaves
4ouncesFresh mushrooms; sliced
6ouncesItalian tomato paste
6ounces;Water
2poundsItalian sausage hot, sweet or mixed
3tablespoonsOlive oil
1poundsLean ground beef
1mediumOnion; minced fine
2Garlic cloves; minced
¼cupParmesan cheese; grated
1Egg; beaten
2tablespoonsFresh parsley; chopped
2tablespoonsFresh basil; chopped
2tablespoonsFresh oregano; chopped
1teaspoonSalt; or to taste
1tablespoonHungarian paprika
4tablespoonsOlive oil

Directions

SAUCE

SAUSAGE

MEATBALLS

Begin simmering tomatoes in a 6-qt. stockpot. Cut sausage into 2" lengths, brown well in 3 tb. olive oil, and add to tomatoes.

Combine all meatball ingredients (except oil), form into 1" balls, brown in olive oil in a large skillet, and add to tomatoes. In the same skillet, saute onions and garlic until soft. Add all other herbs listed for the sauce. Add tomato paste and water and simmer for about 10 minutes, until of a fairly thick consistency. Empty contents of skillet into tomatoes, and cook uncovered on very low heat for about 4 hours. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.

Serve over rigatoni or spaghetti.

Cathy's note: Remove bay leaves when through cooking.

The editors wrote: "Since you're most likely to make this dish in the cold months, you might want to substitute 1 to 1½ tb. of dried herbs for the fresh ones listed here." Recipe from Carla Hume of Thurmond, NC in "Great Spaghetti Sauce Cookoff" article in "The Herb Companion." Dec. 1992/Jan. 1993, Vol.

5, No. 2. Pg. 77. Posted by Cathy Harned.