Disney’s Lady and the Tramp: Tony’s Spaghetti and Meatballs

yield: 2      prep time: 20 minutes      total time: 1 hours

ingredients:

meatballs

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp canola oil

tomato sauce

• 6 oz dried spaghetti pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 shallots, minced
• 14 oz DiNaploi crushed tomatoes
• fresh basil leaves
• salt and pepper, to taste
• grated parmesan, to taste

directions:

1. Combine all your ingredients together for the meatballs in a bowl.  Mix the ingredients together with your hands and gently form them into balls, approximately 1 1/2″ in diameter.  Be careful not to press the meat together too tightly.  Place the meatballs in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat with oil.  Once hot, add your meatballs.  Cook until golden brown on all sides.  Repeat this step for the rest of the meatballs.  Set aside and save the pan for the sauce
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1-2 tbsp of salt.  Once it comes to a boil, add your pasta and cook until al dente.
3. In the same pan you cooked the meatballs in, heat over medium heat and add 2 tbsp of olive oil.  Add your garlic and minced shallots and cook for 2 minutes until soft.  Add the crushed tomatoes and scrape off any of the bits left over from the meatballs.  Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.  Add the meatballs and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Once your pasta is cooked to al dente, strain and transfer the pasta to the pan. Toss it in with the sauce.  Add in the torn basil and serve immediately with more basil to garnish and freshly grated parmesan.