Emeril Lagasse Italian Meatball Recipes

EMERIL'S MEAT BALLS AND RED GRAVY

Steps:

• Place the bread in a shallow baking dish. Pour the milk over the bread and let sit for a couple of minutes. In mixing bowl, combine all of the meats together. Season with salt and pepper. Add the minced onions, 1 tablespoon garlic, parsley and bread. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into small balls. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. When the oil is hot add the meatballs and brown for 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. In a large saucepan, heat the remaining oil. Add the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 4 to5 minutes or until the onions are soft and clear in color. Add the remaining garlic and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 30 minutes. Whisk the tomato paste and water together. Add to the tomatoes. Add the meatballs. Bring the liquid to a boil, over high heat. Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Reseason with salt and pepper. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain. Drizzle the pasta with olive oil. Season the pasta with salt and pepper. Using a box grater, grate the cheese. To serve, mound the pasta in the center of each bowl. Spoon the meat balls and sauce over the pasta. Garnish with the grated cheese.

FRANK'S ITALIAN SAUCE (SPAGHETTI SAUCE)

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in a large bowl. Mix well. Form about 16 meatballs and place on a platter. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and fry meatballs over medium heat until browned. Repeat until all meatballs are browned. Place meatballs on new clean platter. Do not discard the oil.
• For the Gravy: In the skillet, heat the reserved oil, add the onion and garlic and saute for approximately 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Fill the empty tomato paste can full of water, add to the skillet, and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In an 8-quart saucepan, add the ground tomatoes and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Fill the empty ground tomato can 3/4 full of water and add to the saucepan, along with the tomato paste mixture from the skillet and the reserved browned meatballs. Mix thoroughly but carefully with a wooden spoon so as to not break the meatballs. Add the salt, ground pepper, and parsley and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes, then cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking and burning on bottom of pan. Serve over al dente pasta and sprinkle with some grated Pecorino Romano cheese, along with crusty Italian bread and a good bottle of red wine.

STUFFED MEATBALL HOAGIES

Steps:

• Pour the Basic Red Sauce into a large, heavy pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Place all the remaining meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well to combine.
• Using your hands, divide the meatball mixture into 12 even portions and roll into smooth meatballs. Place meatballs on a plate as they are formed. When all the meatballs are shaped, gently place the balls into the simmering sauce 1 at a time. Simmer the sauce, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before stirring. The meatballs should begin to float to the top when they are able to be stirred. Stir gently and continue to simmer for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Using oven mitts or pot holders, remove the sauce from the heat and cover to keep warm. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Using a sharp knife, slice a thin layer off the top of each hoagie bun and, using your hands, remove some of the bready interior to form a hollowed-out submarine shape. Brush the inside of the hollowed out buns with the olive oil. Divide half of the grated mozzarella evenly between the hoagie buns and bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and buns are lightly golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and ladle some of the hot tomato sauce into the buns. Place 2 or 3 meatballs inside each bun and top with more sauce. Divide the remaining mozzarella cheese among the tops of the buns and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Return to the oven and bake until bubbly and hot throughout and the cheeses are golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
• Published by William Morrow, 1993.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, salt, basil, oregano, and pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and sugar to the pot with the onion and stir well. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled wooden spoon.
• Using oven mitts or pot holders, remove the pot from the heat and use the sauce as needed. You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.

MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Place a soup pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and heat. Add the chopped onion and celery to the pot and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables are soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes and their juices, beef broth, tomato paste, 1/4 teaspoon of Italian Essence, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stir to combine. Bring to a low simmer and simmer for 15 minutes.
• While the broth simmers, make the meatballs. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, 1/3 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, 3/4 teaspoon of the Italian Essence, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and, using clean hands, mix until thoroughly combined.
• Divide meat into tablespoons and roll into smooth balls with your hands. Set the rolled meatballs aside on a plate or other flat surface. Wash your hands.
• Carefully add the meatballs to the simmering broth. Gently stir, so as not to break up the meatballs Add the remaining 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
• Add the ditalini and spinach to the hot soup, stir well, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through. Stir in the chopped basil and serve the soup in wide bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan, if desired.

EMERIL'S SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat the bacon drippings (or olive oil) in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Season the sauce with the basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Place the remaining ingredients, except spaghetti, in a large mixing bowl. Mix together just until combined. Form meatballs by rolling meat mixture into 1 tablespoon-sized balls. Place meatballs on a plate as they are formed. (Hint: If your hands are slightly damp, the meatballs will roll more easily without sticking.).
• Place the balls into the simmering sauce 1 at a time. Allow the sauce to return to a simmer, and cook, partially covered. Let the meatballs to rest undisturbed for 25 minutes before stirring. When the meatballs rise to the top, stir gently. Simmer, partially covered, for an additional hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Remove the sauce from the heat and serve immediately over cooked spaghetti.
• Reserve leftover sauce and meatballs for the Pasta Frittata.
• Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):.
• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika.
• 2 tablespoons salt.
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder.
• 1 tablespoon black pepper.
• 1 tablespoon onion powder.
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper.
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano.
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly. 2/3 cup.