How to Make Amazing Sunday Sauce (Gravy) with Italian Sausages and Pork

beef

🥗Healthier: lean ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Turkey is lower in fat, while ground beef is often more affordable.

Italian sausage

🥗Healthier: chicken sausage

💰Cheaper: pork sausage

Chicken sausage is lower in calories, while pork sausage can be cheaper.

Coat the bottom of a large heavy pot with 1/2 cup of olive oil and sauté the onions on medium-low heat until translucent (about 5-7 minutes).

Add the tomato paste to the onions and cook for 5 minutes, spreading the paste around with a wooden spoon. Add a splash of water if the paste starts to burn.

Add in all of the hand crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Stir the sauce until incorporated and cook on a low simmer with the lid left slightly ajar. Stir the sauce every so often to avoid sticking. The sauce should cook on low heat for at least 2.5 to 3 hours but longer will be better. Add optional sugar after taste testing, if required.

Add the beef and ground pork to a large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper.

To the meat, add the breadcrumbs, grated cheese, parsley, and garlic paste. Pour 2 beaten eggs in and gently mix everything together. If the mixture is too dry, add one more egg to the mix.

With wet hands roll approximately 2" diameter meatballs. The meatballs can be shallow fried in neutral oil until brown on all sides or baked on a sheet pan with wire rack at 400°F for 15 minutes and an additional 5 minutes at 475°F.

Place the browned meatballs in the sauce and cook for a minimum of 1 hour on low heat to allow the meatballs to absorb the flavor and braise in the sauce.

When the meatballs are finished, serve with choice of pasta, grated cheese, and Italian bread.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: