Sunday Sauce
This Sunday Sauce is a rich, slow-simmered Italian-style tomato sauce with sausage and meatballs, creating a hearty, comforting meal that is perfect for serving over pasta on a cozy family dinner night.
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Servings: 12
Ingredients
For the Sausage
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage about 4 links
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 lb ground veal
- 6 handfuls Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 3 handfuls grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/4 c chopped flat-leaf parsley
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 2 cans water using the tomato paste can, or 1 1/2 c water
- 2 cans 28 oz each crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 c red wine
- 1 carrot grated
- Sea salt to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Sausage
Preheat the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Bake the sausage.
- Place the sausage links on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through to brown both sides evenly. Remove from the oven and set aside. The sausage does not need to be fully cooked at this stage, as it will continue cooking in the sauce.
Prepare the Meatballs
Reduce the oven temperature.
- Lower the oven temperature to 400°F.
Mix the meatball ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, ground veal, Italian seasoned bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, water, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Mix until evenly incorporated.
Shape the meatballs.
- Form the mixture into meatballs using your hands and place them on a lightly oiled baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart.
Bake the meatballs.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until browned but not fully cooked through.
Prepare the Sauce
Cook the onion.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, season lightly with salt, and cook until softened.
Add the garlic.
- Stir in the sliced garlic and cook for approximately 1 minute.
Add the tomato paste and water.
- Add the tomato paste and water to the pot. Season with salt and black pepper, then stir until thoroughly combined. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Simmer the base.
- Reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pot, and simmer for at least 20 minutes.
Add the remaining sauce ingredients.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the crushed tomatoes, red wine, and grated carrot. Season again with salt and black pepper, then stir to combine.
Simmer the sauce.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Partially cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Finish the Sunday Sauce
Add the sausage and meatballs.
- Add the browned sausage and meatballs to the sauce.
Continue simmering.
- Partially cover the pot and simmer for an additional 90 minutes, stirring occasionally as needed to prevent sticking or burning.
Serve.
- Serve the Sunday Sauce hot over cooked pasta or with your preferred accompaniment.
Notes
To make this Sunday Sauce gluten free, replace the Italian seasoned bread crumbs in the meatballs with certified gluten-free bread crumbs. Also confirm that the sausage, Parmesan cheese, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and red wine are free from hidden gluten-containing additives if needed for strict dietary requirements. If serving with pasta, use your favorite certified gluten-free pasta.