Spaghetti with lamb meatballs

Spaghetti With Lamb Meatballs

How often do you eat spaghetti with meatballs? Spaghetti and meatballs has got to be one of life’s simple pleasures. It is, for me, the essence of comfort food. I probably didn’t have to write up a separate recipe for meatballs made with lamb, but it gives me a good excuse to make spaghetti and meatballs (I have to test the recipe, don’t I).

Sauce

Olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

4 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced

2 cups of red wine

Cajun seasoning

2 28 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

2 branches of rosemary

1/2 cup of chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp. dry)

1 tsp. Tabasco

Meatballs

1-1/2 lb. ground lamb

4 cloves of garlic, smashed and finely minced

1 shallot, finely minced

1/2 cup grated parmesan

1/4 cup bread crumbs

2 eggs

Salt, white pepper and cajun seasoning

1/4 cup minced parsley

Preparation

In a large braising pan, or large sauce pot, heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom. Add the onion and stir until the onion softens.  Sprinkle it with cajun seasoning. Add the garlic and shiitake mushrooms. Stir and cook until the mushrooms are mostly cooked, about three minutes.

Add the red wine and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer until it is reduced by half. Add the crushed tomatoes, rosemary, basil and Tabasco. Let it simmer gently, stirring often while you make the meatballs.

Place the ground lamb, garlic, shallot, parmesan, bread crumbs, eggs and parsley in a bowl. Give it a good sprinkling of salt, pepper and cajun seasoning. Using a wooden spoon, stir until everything is evenly mixed. Use your hands and shape the meat into small meatballs and place them on a plate. When they are all shaped, gently slide them into the simmering sauce. Stir gently being careful to not break them up. Let them simmer in the sauce for twenty minutes, over just enough heat to keep the sauce at a simmer. Stir often.

Serving

Cook a pound of spaghetti and drain it. Place a large mound of spaghetti on a plate and smother it in meatballs and sauce. Next give it a good shower of grated parmesan. Along with your spaghetti, you want a crisp salad, homemade bread with butter and a bottle of Chianti.