Power Up Pasta And Meatballs Recipes

PRESSURE COOKER SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Set pressure cooker to the sauté function, and heat 2 tablespoons oil in the pot. Stir in garlic, red pepper and black pepper, and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes, salt and basil sprigs; cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes (lower the sauté function to low or briefly turn the machine off if the sauce splatters too much).
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix together beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan, chopped basil, egg, salt and garlic. Roll into 1 1/4-inch balls.
• Pour 1 cup water into sauce in pot, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pot (if you don't do this, the burn light may turn on). Scatter uncooked spaghetti over the sauce. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon oil over spaghetti, stirring gently (try to keep the spaghetti on top of the sauce), then top with meatballs.
• Cover and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Manually release the pressure, then remove the cover and stir to separate the spaghetti. Stir in 2 tablespoons Parmesan. At this point, the pasta will be almost but not quite cooked through. Place the top back on the pressure cooker (loosely) and let it sit for 3 to 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and spaghetti is al dente but not mushy.
• Serve dolloped with ricotta, if using, and sprinkled with thinly sliced basil and more Parmesan if you like.

POWER UP PASTA AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Mix beef and spices (Italian seasoning, garlic, salt) in large bowl. Form into 24 meatballs (1 inch). Put meatballs in greased baking pan, spacing them evenly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until no longer pink inside.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta (12 minutes after boiling reached) and drain.
• Meanwhile, heat spaghetti sauce.
• Serve - divide pasta between plates, add meatballs, spoon pasta sauce over and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.