SPAGHETTI and MEATBALLS
Old Spaghetti Factory Copycat Recipe
Serves 8
1/3 cup very finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon very finely minced garlic
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 1/2 pounds lean ground chuck
30 ounces tomato sauce
Combine chopped onion, garlic, parsley and bread crumbs in a food processor and mix 30 seconds. Break the egg into a 3 quart bowl and mix well using a wire whisk. Add water, olive oil, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the egg and whisk until well whisked. Add the bread crumb mixture, combining with a spatula. Add the ground meat and mix thoroughly until ingredients are well distributed and the mixture is binding together tightly.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Using a medium sized ice cream scoop, scoop out a portion onto a lightly oiled jelly roll pan. Form each meatball by rolling in the palm of your hand until they feel tight and solid. (The finished meatballs should be about the size of a golf ball.)
Pour 1/4 cup water into the pan and place in the oven. Time 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and loosen with a spatula. Return to the oven an additional 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain. Heat the tomato sauce in a large skillet. Add the meatballs and simmer 2 minutes. Serve over pasta or rice.
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