Recipe: Roasted Italian Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients:

Meatballs

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground pork

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs (Progresso Italian style is my fave)

1 cup of parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving

2 garlic cloves minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten

¾ cup dry red wine

¾ cup water

Olive oil for basting

2 (32-ounce) jars of marinara sauce

Spaghetti Squash

1 Medium sized spaghetti Squash

Coconut oil for basting

Salt and Pepper to taste

Lo Note: The original recipe called for ½ pound of ground pork and ½ pound of veal.  I couldn’t find ground veal anywhere so I just doubled up on the pork.  The original recipe also called for ½ cup Parmesan and ½ cup Pecorino.  But that Pecorino was $16 for a small ass wedge. And fuck that. So I doubled up on the Parmesan.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. Combine the pork, beef, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper.  Add the eggs wine and water. Mix with your hands or a fork.

3. Measure out 2-ounce portions.  Like Ina, whom I got the recipe from, I used an ice cream scooper to portion out the mixture and then rolled it into a ball with my hands. Place the balls one inch apart on the parchment paper.

4. Cut the spaghetti Squash in half lengthwise.  Scoop out the seeds.  Baste with coconut oil and season with salt and pepper.  Place face down on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil. Cook for 40 minutes.

5. Bake the meatballs for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned. Pour the marinara sauce into a large pot and bring to a simmer.  Carefully add the meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes until heated through.

6. Scoop out the spaghetti squash into a serving bowl. 

Serve meatballs atop the squash.  Top with parmesan cheese.

Recipe inspiration found HERE.

Next time I'll probably add some chopped onion.  I also think I'll turn the temp down to 350.  Because though the meatballs weren't dry, they weren't necessarily juicy either and I likes muh balls juicy!

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