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Mike Maroni’s Grandma Maroni’s Meatballs (100-Year-Old Recipe)

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

Meatballs

Olive oil
1 pound ground beef chuck
1 1/2 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 1/4 cups fresh bread crumbs
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 small Spanish onion, grated
3 tablespoons minced garlic
Pinch of kosher salt, or to taste

Maroni Sauce

1/3 cup olive oil
12 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 large Spanish onion, finely diced
2 (28-ounce) cans imported crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white or black pepper
1 large handful fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
1 pound spaghetti, cooked al dente

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    To make the meatballs, preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.

    Step 2

    Mix the beef, cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, milk, herbs, onion, garlic, and salt in a mixing bowl.

    Step 3

    Roll the meatballs loosely about the size of a large golf ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until cooked through and lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes.

    Step 4

    To make the sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the garlic and onion, and cook until soft and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and stir. Allow the sauce to come to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the basil.

    Step 5

    Add the meatballs to the sauce.

    Step 6

    To serve, divide the spaghetti among 4 plates, and top with the meatballs and the sauce.

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