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Sunday Sauce with Meatballs, Ribs, and Sausage Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 130 reviews

Classic Italian Sunday Sauce featuring tender pork ribs, sweet Italian sausage, and flavorful homemade meatballs simmered all day in a rich tomato sauce infused with fresh basil and garlic. Perfect for a comforting family meal served over pasta or polenta.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 slices Pullman or Italian bread, torn into small pieces (about 1 cup)
  • 1 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 lb. (80% lean) ground beef

Sauce

  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 lb. pork spare ribs or baby back ribs, cut between bones into individual ribs
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 lb. sweet Italian pork sausage
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 12 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (28-oz.) can tomato puree
  • 3 small bunches fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the meatballs: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and milk until fully combined. Add the torn bread pieces, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Toss everything to combine well. Then, gently fold in the ground beef with your hands or a spatula, ensuring the mixture is evenly incorporated into the panade.
  2. Form the meatballs: Using 2 heaping tablespoons of the beef mixture per meatball, shape into balls by rolling between your hands. You should get approximately 9 meatballs. Arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet tray, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  3. Brown the ribs: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the ribs with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook the ribs in the pot, turning halfway through, until they develop a golden brown crust, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Once browned, transfer the ribs to a plate and set aside.
  4. Brown the sausage: In the same pot over medium-high heat, add the sweet Italian pork sausage. Cook it while turning occasionally and breaking it up into large pieces with a wooden spoon. Brown the sausage evenly on all sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the browned sausage to the plate alongside the ribs.
  5. Sauté onion and garlic: Still using the same pot, cook the finely chopped onion and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the onion becomes translucent and soft, approximately 8 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  6. Add tomatoes and herbs: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato puree. Use the empty tomato cans to fill with water and add this water to the pot to capture any remaining tomato residue. Return the browned ribs and sausage to the pot. Add the fresh basil bunches on top. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
  7. Simmer the sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer. Partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the sauce cook gently for 2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and the meat to become tender.
  8. Cook the meatballs in sauce: After 2 hours, carefully nestle the refrigerated meatballs into the sauce. Continue cooking uncovered over medium heat until the meatballs are no longer pink inside and fully cooked through, about 30 minutes. Some meatball crumbs falling into the sauce are normal and add to its richness. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed before serving.

Notes

  • For best flavor, prepare the sauce a day ahead to allow it to rest and develop richer taste.
  • Serve over your favorite pasta like spaghetti or pappardelle, or with creamy polenta for a traditional Italian meal.
  • If fresh basil is unavailable, dried basil can be used, but reduce quantity by half.
  • Leftover sauce keeps well refrigerated for 3-4 days and freezes up to 3 months.
  • Use 80% lean ground beef to ensure meatballs remain tender and juicy.

Keywords: Sunday Sauce, Italian Sauce, Meatballs, Pork Ribs, Italian Sausage, Slow Simmer, Classic Italian

Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/sunday-sauce-with-meatballs-ribs-and-sausage-recipe/