Slowcooker Tomato Sauce with Meatballs
From: Carolyn D'Agostino
Date: Tue Feb 20, 2001 4:06pm
This is really easy to make. I am also having a blast with my new Mastercook software. I would have put in about 1/2 cup of red wine if I had any around. My grandmother would be very upset about the addition of tomato paste (use an imported Italian brand, if possible), but it prevents the sauce from being watery.
Enjoy.
Carolyn
2 pounds lean beef
1 small onion -- minced
handful parsley -- minced
1 egg -- beaten
1/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
generous grind black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
5 cloves garlic -- minced
3 28 oz. cans whole plum tomatoes -- broken up
1 small can tomato paste
1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper
Combine ingredients 1-9 in bowl. Mix well. Form into small balls.
Put them in the bottom of a large slowcooker (no, you don't have to brown them first).
Sautee garlic in a bit of olive oil in a small pan for a few minutes, add to slow cooker (I find that unsauteed garlic does not taste great in the slow cooker, so I do this step. If you are not so fussy or pressed for time, you can omit it).
Add sliced onions, tomatoes, tomato paste (stir the paste into some of the whole tomatoes to dissolve it before putting it in), and the remaining spices. Cook on LOW until you get home -- 8 - 10 hours, or thereabouts.