David Ruggerios Meatballs Polpetti Sunday Gravy Recipes

MEATBALLS (POLPETTI) & SUNDAY GRAVY

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic in it for 3 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Set aside and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, mix together the three meats with the bread crumbs, cheese, the cooled onion and garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and eggs.
• Shape the mixture into medium sized ovals, the size of extra large eggs. You should end up with about 22 meatballs.
• Brown he meatballs in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and proceed with the recipe for the famous Sunday gravy or simply submerge them in your favorite tomato sauce and gently simmer until tender. 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring periodically, always careful not to break the meatballs.
• When the sauce is ready, skim the excess oil from the top, adjust the seasoning and serve.
• Sunday Gravy: Place the 1/4 cups of olive oil in a very large heavy bottomed saucepot over medium heat. Saute the garlic for about 1 minute or until slightly golden.
• Add the tomato paste and fry it with the garlic for 5 minutes or until the paste is bubbling, constantly stirring so as not to burn it.
• Stir in the 12 tomato paste cans of water and allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until thick.
• Add the pureed tomatoes, the 1 1/2 tomato cans of water, the oregano, salt, basil and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then lower the heat so that the sauce barely simmers. Place a wooden spoon under the cover to keep the pot partially opened.
• While the sauce cooks, place the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and begin to brown the meat components evenly on all sides.
• After the sauce has been simmering over low heat for 2 hours, add the meat to it, being careful not to break the meatballs. Make sure the meat is completely covered by the sauce and continue to cook for 1 to 1 1.2 hour more hours, stirring periodically, always careful not to break the meatballs.
• When the sauce is ready, skim the excess oil from the top, adjust the seasoning and serve.

DAVID RUGGERIO'S MEATBALLS (POLPETTI) & SUNDAY GRAVY

Steps:

• Meatballs:
• Place 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in skillet over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic for 3 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Set aside and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, mix together the three meats with the bread crumbs, cheese, the cooled onion and garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and eggs.
• Shape the mixture into medium sized ovals, the size of extra large eggs. You should end up with about 22 meatballs.
• Brown the meatballs in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and proceed with the recipe for the famous Sunday gravy. (Alternatively, pre-heat oven to 400° , place meatballs on baking sheet, bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown)
• Sunday Gravy:
• Place the 1/4 cup of olive oil in a very large, heavy bottomed saucepot over medium heat. Saute the garlic for about 1 minute or until slightly golden.
• Add the tomato paste and fry it with the garlic for 5 minutes or until the paste is bubbling, constantly stirring so as not to burn it.
• Stir in the 12 tomato paste cans of water (9-cups) and allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until thick.
• Add the pureed tomatoes, the 1 ½ whole tomato cans of water (6 ½ cups), the oregano, salt, basil and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then lower the heat so that the sauce barely simmers. Place a wooden spoon under the cover to keep the pot partially opened.
• While the sauce cooks, place the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and begin to brown the meat components evenly on all sides.
• After the sauce has been simmering over low heat for 2 hours, add the meat to it, being careful not to break the meatballs. Make sure the meat is completely covered by the sauce and continue to cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hour more hours, stirring periodically, always careful not to break the meatballs.

SUNDAY GRAVY WITH BEEF OR PORK BRACIOLA AND ANNA AND FRANKIE'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Braciola: With meat cleaver or any heavy kitchen utensil, pound the meat slices between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Rub each piece of meat with the garlic clove. Sprinkle each slice of meat with and equal amount of cheese and parsley. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
• Roll the meat up tightly like a cigar, and tie with butcher's twine to keep meat rolled while cooking. Heat oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the meat rolls and fry for about 6 minutes or until evenly browned. Reserve meat for gravy.
• Meatballs: Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Using your hands, blend ingredients. Add bread crumbs to mixture. Slowly add water, 1 cup at a time, until mixture is moist.
• Shape meat mixture into balls, approximately 2 1/2 to 3-inch balls.
• In a large skillet, heat oil. The oil should be very hot, but not smoking. Place the meatballs in pan, and fry in batches. When the bottom half of meatball is browned and slightly crispy, turn over and cook top half. Remove from pan and drain on paper towel.
• Sunday Gravy: In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and toss to coat with oil. Cook meat a few pieces at a time, about 5 minutes, until nicely browned on all sides. Remove meat from pan and set aside. When garlic cloves have browned, remove and discard them.
• Combine tomato paste and water and stir into oil. Stirring constantly, cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and juice, raise heat, and bring to a boil. Using a tomato can, measure 2 cans of cold water, add to pan, and return to a boil.
• Return beef and pork to the sauce, and add salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 5 minutes. Lower heat and partially cover pan. Cook for approximately 2 hours stirring occasionally until meat is almost falling apart and sauce is thick.
• One hour before sauce is ready, add the beef or pork braciola and sausage. Add the meatballs at the same time.
• To serve: Remove meat from sauce. Serve sauce over pasta, and the meats on a separate platter.

SUNDAY GRAVY (REAL ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE)AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• SAUCE: Heat oil in large heavy pot (use a seasoned pot if you have one). Place the pork in the pot and brown until just about cooked. Transfer pork to plate. Do the same with the sausage and transfer to plate. Leave fat in pot. Add whole peeled garlic cloves cook until tender. Put garlic on plate with meat and stir in tomato paste until "saucy". Chop up tomatoes leaving the tomato juice in the cans (I use my chopper) and add them to the pot.
• Then add 1/2 of one can of the juice to the pot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the meats and garlic to the sauce and bring to a boil. Turn down to low and cook for about 1 1/2 hours. Leave the sauce on low and remove all the meat and garlic cloves.
• Mix all ingredients for meatballs and shape into balls. Add to sauce turn up just a little higher than low and let cook the raw meatballs until they are done (1/2 hour) THATS IT!
• Now this is an old recipe, but I have seen it in the sopranos cookbook and this is a bit different.
• I used this sauce to make the ziti al forno from the sopranos cookbook (Recipe #73939) and it was the most amazing thing I have ever eaten, so I posted that too.