Spaghetti with Meatballs

Let’s face it—who can resist a warm and delicious plate of Spaghetti with Meatballs? This classic dish has been around for ages. And, once you take your first bite, you’ll know that this is one of the top ten ultimate comfort foods in the world.

So where did this Spaghetti and Meatballs come from? Well, it all began when Italian immigrants made their way to America. Someone came up with the brilliant idea to pair spaghetti with meatballs and this gave rise to a culinary meal that has become an international sensation.

Interestingly, the concept of meatballs isn’t exclusive to Italy. The origin of meatballs date back to Ancient Persia, where they were known as Kofta. The Swedes have also developed their own version and they call it köttbullar.

What constitutes the perfect Spaghetti with meatballs? Well, it begins with a trifecta of exquisite pasta, rich tomato sauce, and perfectly crafted meatballs infused with the right spices. The meatballs are held together with delicate breadcrumbs, which blend beautifully with the tomato sauce. This results in an unforgettable meal filled with warmth and joy, to be savoured in the company of your loved ones.

What you need to Make Spaghetti with Meatballs?

Mince Beef, Breadcrumbs, Egg, Red onion, Diced Tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Garlic powder, Paprika Powder, Salt, Ginger Powder, Cumin Powder, Black Pepper, Dried Oregano.

Instruction

Make the meatballs: Chop up the onion, garlic and divide it into two portions. Add two-third of the onion into a bowl. Exclude 1/3 of the onion for the tomato sauce. Add the eggs, chopped parsley and spices to the bowl. Add the mince meat to a bowl as well as the breadcrumbs. Mix well. Shape into meatballs.

Fry the meatballs: Add cooking oil to the pan. Add one-third of the chopped onion and garlic. Caramelize the onions and garlic until brown. This should take four to five minutes. Thereafter, add your meatballs and fry it. Do not overcrowd your pan as the meatballs need space to brown. It will take approximately three to five minutes for the meatballs to brown on each side.

Make the tomato sauce: Remove the meatballs and set aside. Add a can of diced tomatoes to the pan. Lightly season with salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.

Add sugar to reduce the acidity. Alternatively, you can use a jar of pre-bought marinara sauce or basilico sauce to the pan. This will reduce the cooking time by a significant amount. If you’re using a jar of store-bought sauce, taste it prior to adding any additional salt, sugar or spices to check the overall flavour.

After a few minutes, you can re-add the cooked meatballs. The meatballs were initially set aside to allow the onions and garlic to caramelize, if you had left it in the pan, it will result in meatballs that are dry on the inside. Allow the meatballs to simmer with the sauce. Cook the Pasta for nine minutes until al-dente.

Make sure to reserve some pasta water to mix into the sauce with the spaghetti. Add the spaghetti only to the pan and mix. Then add a tablespoon or so of pasta water at a gradual interval. Once the sauce achieves a glossy and smooth look, it is ready. Allowing the spaghetti to fuse with the meatballs and sauce will result in a more delicious dish.

What to Serve with Spaghetti with Meatballs?

Consider serving alongside Garlic bread. Other alternatives include a vegetarian version of Caesar salad. Roasted Cauliflower would also make a delicious side-dish.

Expert tips

Use high quality mince meat. When mixing your ground meat and ingredients, do not over mix it. Gently combine the ingredients, you can also add a splash of milk to ensure that your meatballs remain moist on the inside.

Some people use a slice of bread in place of breadcrumbs, they drench the bread in milk and then squeeze the bread between their two hands to remove the excess liquid. This also works as a binding ingredient. So if you don’t have any breadcrumbs, you can opt for a slice of bread.

If you find that your meatballs constantly fall apart, it could be due to the humidity in your country. In this case, refrigerate the ground meat for 30 minutes prior to shaping and cooking. The cooked meatballs can be prepared ahead of time. This is useful when you are expecting many guests.

How to Store Spaghetti and Meatballs?

Store the Spaghetti and Meatballs in the fridge. It will last for three to four days. Freezing meatballs is also possible and works well, especially, if you’re planning on making a huge quantity of meatballs with sauce, consider storing it separately from the Spaghetti and Sauce.