Categories: Pasta
Ingredients
- Vegetable-Tomato Sauce:
- 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery from the heart with leafy top, coarsely chopped
- 1 small onion (white or yellow), coarsely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. butter
- Salt and pepper
- 24 oz. jar passata (uncooked tomato puree)
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- A handful for fresh basil leaves
- Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- A handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 3 to 4 tbsp. whole milk
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, grated or finely chopped
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp granulated onion
- A little freshly grated nutmeg
- Pasta:
- Salt
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- A fat handful of fresh basil leaves
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta.
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In a food processor, pulse the carrot, celery, onion and garlic until finely chopped. Heat a large saucepan over medium to medium-high. Add the olive oil then the butter. When the butter foams, add the chopped veggies; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring often, until the veggies soften, a couple of minutes. Add 1/2 cup water; cook, stirring often, until absorbed, about 5 minutes. Add the passata, half-and-half, and sugar. Stir in the basil. Simmer over low, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld, about 20 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Mix in the Parm, breadcrumbs, parsley, milk, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, granulated onion and nutmeg. Roll the chicken into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Roast the meatballs until light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
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Salt the boiling water and add the pasta. Cook until 1 minute shy of package directions. Scoop out about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter, Parm, and half the sauce. Add the cooking water if the pasta is too dry.
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Add the meatballs to the remaining sauce.
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Chop or tear the basil and add to the pasta. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl or individual bowls. Top with the meatballs and the remaining sauce.