Soprano's Sunday Gravy (Spaghetti Sauce) Recipe - Food.com (2024)

• For the Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb meaty pork neck bones or 1 lb pork spareribs
• 1 lb veal stew meat or 2 veal shoulder chops
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 4 garlic cloves
• ¹⁄₄ cup tomato paste
• 3 (28 ounce) cans peeled Italian tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 6 leaves fresh basil, torn into small pieces

• For the Meatballs

• 1 lb ground beef (or combination of beef or pork)
• ¹⁄₂ cup plain breadcrumbs
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
• ¹⁄₂ cup freshly grated romano cheese or 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• To Serve

• 1 lb pasta shells or 1 lb rigatoni pasta, cooked and hot
• freshly grated romano cheese or parmesan cheese

directions

• To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
• Pat the pork dry and put the pieces in the pot.
• Cook turning occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until nicely browned on all sides.
• Transfer pork to a plate.
• Brown the veal in the same way and add it to the plate.
• Place the sausages in the pot and brown on all sides.
• Set the sausages aside with the pork.
• Drain off most of the fat from the pot.
• Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes or until golden.
• Remove and discard the garlic.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
• With a food mill (I use a Braun hand blender) puree the tomatoes, with their juice into the pot.
• Or for a chunkier sauce, just chop up the tomatoes and add them.
• Add the water; and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the pork, veal, sausages, and basil and bring the sauce to a simmer.
• Partially cover the pot and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours.
• If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more water.
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: Combine all the ingredients except the oil in a large bowl.
• Mix together thoroughly.
• Rinse your hands with cool water and lightly shape the mixture into 2 inch balls.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet.
• Add the meatballs and brown them well on all sides.
• They will finish cooking in the sauce.
• Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
• After the sauce has cooked for its two hours, add the meatballs and cook for 30 minutes or until the sauce is thick and the meats are very tender.
• To serve, remove the meats from the sauce and set aside.
• Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Serve the meats as a second course, or reserve them for another day.