recipe
Meatballs and Red Sauce
by Brava Chef Annie
About this Recipe
Meatballs and red sauce are a staple across households and restaurants alike. Our take on the classic is sure to give your favorite dinner joint a run for its money. Keep this recipe in your back pocket as the holidays roll around - it’s an easy way to feed a crowd and your guests will ask for seconds. Chef Annie suggests using her favorite store-bought red sauce for this recipe, Rao’s Homemade Marinara. Crushed canned San Marzano tomatoes are also fabulous. Serve with generous amounts of Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and crushed red chili flakes to bring it all together.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ground pork
- 1.0 ground beef (use ground chuck for best flavor)
- 0.3333333333333333 cups whole-milk ricotta
- 0.3333333333333333 cups breadcrumbs
- 2.0 eggs
- 2.0 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon plus 1½ teaspoons tomato paste
- 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1.0 teaspoons ground fennel seeds (optional)
- 1.0 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 28.0 red sauce (Rao’s Homemade Marinara) or canned crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 0.3333333333333333 cups fresh basil for cooking, plus more for serving
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
- extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- Black pepper
Equipment
Brava Chef's Pan
Nutrition Information
Allergens: None
Instructions
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1
Make meatball mixture, shape, and arrange in Chef’s Pan.
- In a large bowl, mix ground pork, ground beef, ricotta, breadcrumbs, eggs, parsley, tomato paste, salt, oregano, fennel, and garlic powder by hand until mixture comes together. Gently mix just until ingredients are incorporated, do not overmix.
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to Brava Chef’s Pan.
- Portion and shape meatballs, each a bit larger than a golf ball, and arrange in Brava Chef’s Pan.
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2
Sear meatballs
- Slide Chef’s Pan, uncovered, into top shelf.
- Select “Meatballs and Red Sauce” on Brava’s touchscreen and follow instructions.
- Press the green button to begin cooking.
- Note: You will remove Chef’s Pan after 12 minutes.
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3
Top meatballs with red sauce and basil and continue cooking
- Once Brava notifies you, carefully remove Chef’s Pan. Press the green button to begin preheating (keep Brava chamber empty during this step).
- While Brava preheats to 325F, cover meatballs with red sauce, fresh basil, a pinch of kosher salt, and pinch of red chili flakes if using.
- Once Brava is preheated, slide Chef's Pan, uncovered, into top shelf. Press green button to finish cooking.
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4
Finish and serve
- When your food is done, serve meatballs and red sauce in bowls with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, more fresh basil, freshly cracked black pepper, and pinch of red chili flakes if using.