Family Sicilian Sauce and Meatballs

Family Sicilian Sauce and Meatballs

Recipe by: PETEIYC 

"My mother's family originally came from Sicily and every family member makes his or her own version - this version came most recently via Brooklyn. If there are any leftovers, they freeze very well. MANGIA! Serve with red wine and a good loaf of crusty Italian bread.”

Meatballs:

3 slices white bread, torn into pieces
1/4 cup milk or water
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
1 pinch dried parsley
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Sauce:

3 tablespoons olive oil
4 onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
12 (3.5 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage
1 1/2 pounds cubed beef brisket
1/2 pound pork neck bones
4 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
3 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine
4 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
3 (16 ounce) packages dry pasta

To Make

To Make The Meatballs, combine bread and milk or water in a medium bowl. Mix in ground beef, eggs, Romano cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Form golf ball-sized meatballs; place into freezer to firm up.

To Make The Sauce, heat olive oil in a large pot on medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and 1 sausage link; cook about 3 minutes more.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown beef chunks and pork neck bones; set aside.

When onions and garlic are done, turn heat down to low. Add tomato paste and cook for a few minutes. Stir in the browned beef and pork, crushed tomatoes, wine, bay leaves, cinnamon, parsley, basil, and salt and pepper. Bring sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 3 to 4 hours.

Once you add the meatballs, let sauce simmer for 1 hour. When sauce is nearly ready, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Cover pasta with sauce and meatballs and serve immediately.