Jay's Meatballs

Note: For best flavor and texture, buy freshly ground pork, veal and beef from a butcher.

For the meatballs:
1 pound freshly ground veal butt
1 pound freshly ground beef chuck (20 percent fat)
1 pound freshly ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 cup panko bread crumbs (available at Asian food stores or in the international aisle of the supermarket)
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup minced yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
2 cups canola olive oil blend

Place veal, beef and pork in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until evenly blended. Add the eggs, cheese, salt, bread crumbs, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, onion and parsley and mix thoroughly. Gently roll into 2-inch-diameter balls and set aside on parchment paper or a sheet pan. (Do not overwork the meat or the meatballs will be dense.)

Heat the oil in an 8-quart pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear the meatballs until dark-golden brown. Set the meatballs aside. Discard the oil but do not wash the pot.

For the red sauce:
1 cup olive oil
5 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
2 cups diced yellow onions
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 quarts canned crushed tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock

In the unwashed pot where the meatballs were seared, add the oil, garlic, onions, oregano, pepper, basil and salt. Over medium heat, saute about 10 minutes or until onions and garlic are lightly caramelized. Add the tomatoes, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the chicken stock and meatballs and simmer over low heat for 1 1/2 hours.

Makes about 14 large meatballs.

Approximate values per serving: 512 calories, 39 g fat, 90 mg cholesterol, 24 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 1371 mg sodium, 69 percent calories from fat.

Jay's Meatballs