Sicilian Meatballs with Fresh Basil Marinara Recipe
If you’ve never made homemade meatballs, it’s time to step up to the plate and give it a swing. Sure, you can buy a bag of them at the grocery store but there’s really no comparison between a good, homemade meatball and the spongey, frozen store-bought variety! These Sicilian Meatballs are flavored with fresh herbs, good parmesan cheese (worth the splurge here!), and some chopped onions and garlic…simple ingredients that create delicious results. The little bit of effort is sooooo worth it!
While this recipe makes a great marinara sauce for the meatballs, it’s not enough to sauce pasta. I serve the meatballs with good crusty bread (to soak up the sauce) and a mixed green salad tossed with an Italian-inspired vinaigrette. Enjoy!
Sicilian Meatballs with Fresh Basil Marinara
-recipe from Bi-Rite Market’s Eat Good Food
These baseball-sized meatballs are a mainstay of the Bi-Rite market’s deli case. One is enough for most appetites, but have two if you’re ravenous. Variations: Add some capers, anchovies, and olive oil to the marinara for a puttanesca sauce or a pinch of chile flakes for arrabiata sauce.
Makes 6 large meatballs.
- 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, more for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbs. chopped parsley
- 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
- 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- Sugar, as needed
- 2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
Put a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment or a nonstick liner and set aside.
Put the breadcrumbs and milk in a large mixing bowl, stir to blend, and set aside for 5 minutes. With your hands, squeeze and mash the breadcrumbs so that they make a smooth paste. Add the egg and whisk, then add the Parmigiano, ketchup, parsley, oregano, thyme, half the onion, half the garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to blend.
With your hands, break the beef into small chunks and add to the bowl. Mix gently but thoroughly; overmixing will make the meatballs tough and dry. When all the ingredients are evenly combined, shape the mixture into 6 balls and arrange on the baking sheet.
Bake until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F at the center of a meatball, 40 to 45 minutes.
While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining half onion and 1 teaspoon salt and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining half garlic and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bring to a boil, and lower the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste the sauce and add a pinch or two of sugar if it seems too tangy, and season with more salt if necessary. Stir in the basil and keep warm until the meatballs come out of the oven.
Spoon the sauce generously over the meatballs and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors. Garnish with a sprinkling of Parmigiano.
Leftovers: Slice up any leftover meatballs, reheat in the sauce. and put them in the middle of a good crusty roll. Then top with mozzarella or provolone.
Tags: Bi-Rite Market, Comfort Food, homemade meatballs, meatballs, meatballs and marinara, Sicilian meatballs