food comas

Natalya and I attended the Meatball Master Class at the De Gustibus Cooking School which was taught by Daniel Holzman of the The Meatball Shop.  The Spicy Pork Meatballs are top sellers at The Meatball Shop and they are made even more delicious served with a hearty and spicy meat sauce.  We have been making these delicious, spicy meatballs with the spicy sauce for every gathering we have hosted as they are so simple to cook and very delicious.  Daniel prefers to use San Marzano canned tomatoes rather than fresh American tomatoes because they have that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.  Tomatoes are canned at the height of ripeness and you would never be able to find that from the “fresh” tomatoes at the grocery store — unless you have your own garden and grow them organically yourself!  Also, using yellow onions are preferred as they are sweeter than white onions.

This can be enjoyed as an appetizer or side dish, as a main tossed with some pasta, or in between slider buns.  In class, Daniel served the spicy sauce on top of the meatballs with some creamy polenta…. soooo yummy.

Spicy Meat Sauce (recipe by Daniel Holzman of The Meatball Shop)

Yields: 8 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 large yellow onions, small diced (about 2 C)
• 1 lb pork shoulder, ground
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 tsp red pepper chile flakes
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 T tomato paste
• 2 x 28oz cans of tomatoes, chopped (I prefer using San Marzano crushed tomatoes)
• Optional: 1 bay leaf and fresh torn basil

Directions:

Cook the onions and pork with the olive oil, and chile flakes over medium heat in a large pot, stirring constantly until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the onions are soft and beginning to brown (about 15 minutes).

Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for 5 minutes.

Add the canned tomatoes and stir constantly until the sauce begins to boil.  Optional, add a bay leaf and maybe some fresh basil.  Lower heat and continue cooking for 35 minutes stirring every 4-5 minutes such that the sauce does not burn.

Serve the sauce on top of some Spicy Pork Meatballs and enjoy!