Bucatini with Oven-Baked Veal Meatballs

Bucatini with Oven-Baked Veal Meatballs

Bucatini and Meatballs

Bucatini and Meatballs

Bucatini, a thick spaghetti with a hole in its center much like macaroni, is the perfect pasta to hold up to the rich veal meatballs in tomato sauce.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  2. While pasta is cooking, heat meatballs in tomato sauce in a large saucepan over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Add cooked pasta to tomato sauce and gently stir to coat pasta with sauce. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
  4. Serve 2 meatballs and a portion of pasta for each guest. Sprinkle 1-2 tbsp grated cheese over each portion.

4 servings.

Oven-Baked Veal Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Oven-Baked Veal Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Veal Meatball

Veal Meatball

Craving pasta and meatballs? Using ground veal  instead of the typical beef offers a version that’s moist and delicious.

Ingredients:

  • 4 slices of fresh  white bread, crusts removed
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground veal
  • 3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
  • Easy Marinara Sauce

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse bread in a food processor until medium-fine crumbs are created. Should be approximately 1 cup.
  2. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and milk until bread is completely soaked and milk has been nearly completely absorbed, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the veal, 2 tbsp parsley, cheese, egg and salt & pepper to bread mixture. Stir until just combined. Mixture will be somewhat loose. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. Spray a  13 X 18 X 1 rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Form meat mixture into large meatballs, approximately 4 inches across. Place meatballs on the sprayed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Heat marinara sauce in a large saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add baked meatballs and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.

Makes 8 large meatballs.

Notes: Don’t have a food processor? Don’t fret, simply cut the bread into very small pieces using a serrated knife. Tomato sauce can easily be store-bought. Meatballs in sauce freeze well for about 1 month. Want to make 2-inch meatballs? Simply bake for 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes!