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Recipes Nugget Markets Signature Recipes

Homemade Meat Sauce

Prep time
10–15 minutes PT15M
Cook time
4 hours PT4H
Yield
4–6 servings
Difficulty
2 out of 5 on the difficulty scale
homemade_meat_sauce1 Nugget Markets signature recipes

Brimming with homemade meatballs, this hearty sauce is equally delicious over linguine or on crusty bread for a meatball sandwich.

Ingredients

Sauce Base:

  • 2 cans (28 ounces each) tomato puree
  • 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 pieces of pork (any shape or cut will do)
  • 2 hot Italian sausage links, skins well pierced
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon red chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon sage
  • 1 tablespoon thyme

Meatballs:

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ tablespoon sweet paprika
  • ½ tablespoon cracked black pepper
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon oregano
  • ½ tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½–1 teaspoon red chili flakes

Preparation

For the sauce base, place the canned tomatoes, pork, sausage, wine, garlic, and herbs in a stock pot over low heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning.

Cover pot, leaving a small gap to vent steam, and simmer for 3 hours, stirring about every 20 minutes. 

For the meatballs, mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Use an ice cream scoop to shape into meatballs of consistent size to ensure even cooking time.

After the sauce has simmered 3 hours, add the meatballs and simmer for 1 hour, stirring gently every 20 minutes to prevent meatballs from breaking apart.   

When sauce and meatballs are done, skim off any access fat that floats to the top. Serve warm.