On cold winter days, there’s nothing I enjoy more than savoring a warm bowl of hearty meatballs in tomato sauce. Not only do they provide the ultimate comfort, but these meatballs are also a fantastic source of protein to keep you energized and satisfied. Additionally, they are easy to prepare and pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here’s my favorite recipe for creating tender, flavorful meatballs paired with a tangy tomato sauce. It’s a dish that never fails to brighten a chilly evening!

Ingredients for Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

For the Meatballs:

• 500 g (1 lb) ground beef
• 250 g (1/2 lb) sausage meat
• 50 g (1.7 oz) grated Pecorino cheese
• 6 thin slices of spicy Napoli sausage, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 sprig of sage, chopped
• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 5 cl (1.7 oz) milk
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

For the Tomato Sauce:

• 600 g (21 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
• 70 g (2.5 oz) tomato paste
• 1 large shallot, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• Salt, pepper, and paprika

Preparation

Meatballs:

1. First, in a large bowl, combine the ground beef, sausage meat, Pecorino cheese, onion, garlic, chopped spicy sausage, egg, and soaked (then squeezed) bread.
2. Next, season the mixture with salt, pepper, and chopped sage. After that, mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well incorporated.
3. Once mixed, shape the mixture into meatballs of your desired size.

Tomato Sauce:

4. Meanwhile, in a large pan, sauté the shallot and garlic in olive oil until fragrant.
5. Then, stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and thyme sprigs.
6. Additionally, season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika. Let the sauce simmer gently for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Assembly:

Finally, transfer the meatballs to the pan with the tomato sauce. Let them simmer gently for another 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

While the sauce simmers, heat olive oil in a separate skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides until well-sealed.