January 4 is National Spaghetti day – let’s celebrate together!
Is there any question as to why Spaghetti has its own day? This fun treat has been enjoyed by families around the globe for generations. Kids love to swirl, suck and slurp while parents enjoy the convenience and nutrition it can offer. Here is our recipe for semi-homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Note that the meatballs probably aren’t your typical meatballs since we have a “unique” way of cooking them.
| Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients | Spaghetti Sauce Directions |
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Heat olive oil over medium heat and then add onion & garlic. Sautee for a few minutes until they become slightly translucent. Add the meat and break it up while it browns. Make sure the hamburger is mixed well with the onion and garlic. Cook until browned & a few crispy pieces are visible; about 15 minutes. Be sure to scrape the bottom as you don’t want it to burn. Add tomato sauce, herbs, salt & pepper. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Add tomato paste, re-cover and simmer for 2 -3 hours. Taste the sauce and continue to season your sauce (a little at a time) until it’s perfect for your family. Allow to simmer for as long as possible – the longer it cooks the more vibrant the flavor. This makes a lot of sauce, and it freezes perfectly. |
| Meatballs Ingredients | Meatballs Directions |
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In a large saucepan or pot, bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Season the hamburger with salt and pepper to your liking. Form into balls (the size is dependent on your preference.) Carefully drop the meatballs into the boiling water and boil for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove the meatballs and allow to drain for 5 minutes before adding them to your spaghetti sauce. |
Variations
- Feel free to add 1/4 – 1/2 cup grated or pureed carrots, squash, spinach etc.. to add more nutritional value to your sauce.
- If you prefer, you may fry your meatballs instead of boiling them. My grandmother always boiled them and they were delicious!
Kids in the Kitchen
If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, bring the kids into the kitchen to do the job. They’ll love making meatballs and will be more apt to eating if they help! Make sure they wash their hands well both before and after handling raw meat.
Serving Suggestions
This meal is excellent served with a nice Caesar or garden salad and garlic bread. For dessert, why not try a Gelato or Tiramisu?
About Amber Killmon
Oh my this looks amazing. I love making spaghetti for our family. I will be trying your method for cooking the meatballs. We normally just prepare crumbles. So this will be a big surprise for my family… meatballs!
Your homemade spaghetti sauce is very similar to mine with a few minor variations. I hadn’t thought about boiling the meatballs – I usually bake them instead of fry them, but I’m totally going to try the boiling method! :)