Follow these steps for perfect results
Italian bread
soaked in milk
Milk
as needed
Ground beef
Ground pork
Ground veal
Grated Parmesan
Italian-flavored breadcrumbs
Parsley leaves
chopped
Fine salt
Black pepper
freshly ground
Eggs
Garlic
thinly sliced
Olive oil
as needed
Onion
chopped
Tomato paste
Red wine
enough to fill tomato paste can
Crushed tomatoes
Parsley leaves
chopped
Salt
to taste
Pepper
to taste
Sweet Italian sausage
fried until hard
Hot Italian sausage
Spaghetti
Soak Italian bread in milk until saturated.
Squeeze out excess milk from the bread.
Combine ground beef, pork, and veal in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together Parmesan, Italian-flavored breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, eggs, and garlic.
Add the cheese mixture and soaked bread to the meat mixture.
Mix all ingredients well to combine.
Form the mixture into meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Fry the meatballs in batches until browned and cooked through.
Remove meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
Wipe out the skillet.
Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat.
Add garlic and onion to the skillet and cook until lightly browned.
Add tomato paste to the skillet.
Fill the tomato paste can with red wine and pour into the skillet.
Add crushed tomatoes to the skillet.
Fill the tomato can with water and add it to the skillet.
Add parsley, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
Stir well and bring the sauce to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
In the skillet used for meatballs, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
Brown the sausages in batches.
Add the meatballs and sausages to the sauce.
Simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
Drain the spaghetti.
Transfer the spaghetti to a large bowl.
Add a few spoonfuls of the sauce (without meatballs and sausages) to the spaghetti.
Mix to lightly coat the spaghetti.
Transfer the remaining sauce with meatballs and sausages to a platter.
Serve the spaghetti alongside the sauce.
Expert advice for the best results
For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender at the end of the simmering time.
Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spiciness of the gravy.
Simmering the sauce longer will result in a richer, more complex flavor.
Everything you need to know before you start
20 minutes
The sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Serve the spaghetti on a plate, topped with a generous portion of the gravy, meatballs, and sausages. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve with a side of crusty bread for dipping in the sauce.
Grated Parmesan cheese for topping.
A classic Italian red wine that complements the richness of the sauce.
A light and refreshing beer to balance the hearty gravy.
Discover the story behind this recipe
A staple in Italian-American households, often served on Sundays or special occasions.
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