Description
A simple to make, hearty meal that can be spruced up with new herbs or mushrooms when you are the mood.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup 2 oz. leeks
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese (divided use)
- 1 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 eggs
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef
Tomato Sauce
- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 2 14.5 oz. diced tomato (drained)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley
Polenta
- 4 cups milk
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups polenta
Instructions
- Preparation: Heat oven to 450 degrees F.
To make meatballs:
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add in leeks and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. In a bowl combine ½ cup parmesan cheese, plain bread crumbs, salt, milk, Worcestershire sauce and eggs; mix to blend. Add in ground beef, using a sturdy spatula or a wooden spoon mix to combine. Scoop out mixture with a one-ounce cookie scoop or ice cream scoop and form 1½ inch meat balls. Place meatballs in an oven proof skillet or saute pan. Set aside.
To make tomato sauce:
- In a bowl mix together crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add mixture to pan with meatballs.
- Transfer pan to oven and bake for 20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley and remaining ¼ cup grated parmesan.
To make polenta:
- Add milk and stock into a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently until mixture thickens, about 20-25 minutes. Turn off heat and add in parmesan cheese.