Linguine With Rustic Meatballs Recipes

LINGUINE WITH RUSTIC "MEATBALLS"

Steps:

• Break meat into 1 1/2-inch clumps (do not mix meats). Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Cook meat with cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until pale golden in spots (insides will not be fully cooked), about 3 minutes. Transfer meat with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and cook onion, carrots, and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add vermouth and red-pepper flakes and bring to a boil. Whisk cornstarch into broth, then stir into onion mixture and return to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in meat, juices from plate, celery, and lemon juice and simmer until meat is just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Cook linguine in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta-cooking water, then drain pasta. Add to meat along with celery leaves and cook over medium-low heat until just heated through. Add cooking water to moisten if needed. Season with salt and pepper.

LINGUINE WITH MARINARA SAUCE AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Mix first nine ingredients by hand using a light touch.
• Shape into 1 1/2" meatballs.
• Brown slowly in a small amount of olive oil in a Dutch oven.
• Turn carefully to brown all sides.
• Meanwhile make sauce.
• Mix tomato paste, tomato sauce and water.
• When last side of meatballs are nearly brown, add tomato sauce mix to the pan.
• Add garlic, carrot, salt, pepper and wine.
• Stir, being careful not to break up meatballs, cover and simmer for at least an hour.
• Add fresh chopped basil and oregano to taste during the last ten minutes.
• Serve over linguini with Parmesan.

PASTA WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine pork, beef, egg, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, bread crumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly but lightly, handling mixture as little as possible.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of meat mixture into balls 1 inch in diameter, and place on plastic. Refrigerate while making sauce.
• Prepare sauce: Combine onion, garlic and oregano in a food processor, and puree until smooth. Combine butter and oil in a wide, deep pan, and place over low heat until butter melts. Add onion-garlic mixture. Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes; do not brown. Add passata and 2 cups water to pan. Season with sugar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer for 10 minutes, then add milk and bring sauce back to a simmer. Gently drop in meatballs one by one so that they do not break (make sure the meatballs are submerged); do not stir pan. Cover pan partially with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste. Place hot pasta in a large serving bowl. Pour most of sauce (reserving meatballs) on pasta, and toss to combine. Top pasta with meatballs, and serve.