MEAT BALLS
1 1/2 lb Ground beef chuck
1/2 lb Ground pork
1/2 cup Chopped onion
1/4 cup Minced parsey
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp Bread crumbs
2 tbsp Oil
2 Eggs
1 Clove garlic, minced
2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
Olive oil
TOMATO SAUCE
1/4 cup Oil
1/4 cup Chopped onion
1/4 cup Chopped green pepper
1 Clove garlic, minced
1 can (6-oz) broiled mushrooms
4 can (6-oz) tomato paste
1 can (#2-1/2) Italian plum tomatoes
1 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
MAKING THE CASSEROLE
1 lb Tufoli (large tube macaroni)
Meat balls from step #1
1 -(up to)
1 1/2 package Frozen chopped spinach
1 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Egg
Tomato sauce recipe
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Mix all ingredients for meat balls together thoroughly, except the last, olive oil. Form into medium sized balls: brown in oil. Set aside and cook in tomato sauce later.
To make tomato sauce: Heat the oil: add onion, green pepper, garlic, mushrooms (drained and halved) and saut until golden. Stir in tomato paste; cook for 4 minutes. Press plum tomatoes through a strainer; add an equal amount of water. Combine with tomato paste mixture. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; add meatballs and cook over low heat 1-1/2 hours or until sauce thickens slightly. Remove meatballs and put aside.
Cook tufoli in 6 quarts boiling, salted water for 12 to 15 minutes or until almost tender. Mash meat balls in a bowl. Add spinach (drained and finely chopped), salt, 2 tablespoons cheese and the egg, mixing well. Stuff this mixture into cooked tufoli. Cover bottom of a large casserole with half of sauce and arrange alternate layers of stufted tufoli and sauce, sprinkling each layer with cheese; finish with sauce. Cover dish and bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 30 minutes. Serve with extra sauce and cheese. Serves 6 very generously.
From <A Taste of Louisiana>.
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