Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef or ground pork
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 lb spaghetti
• Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Serves: 4

Instructions for Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs recipe:

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef or pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, 2 cloves of minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the 4 cloves of minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
5. Add the meatballs to the sauce and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
6. While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and return to the pot.
7. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and meatballs and divide among plates. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

Nutrition per serving (based on 4 servings):

• Calories: 603
• Fat: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 72g
• Protein: 38g

To dress it up, you can sprinkle some fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top of the spaghetti and meatballs and garnish with fresh basil leaves. You can also serve it with a side of garlic bread or a green salad.