American · main

You Gotta Love Spaghetti and Meatballs

You Gotta Love Spaghetti and Meatballs reads umami 5.1, allium 4.5 and salinity 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a American main, about 1 hr. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 5.1 · Allium 4.5 · Salinity 4.5 · Richness 4.0 · Sweetness 3.6 · Sourness 1.9 · Herbaceous 1.7 · Earthy 1.6 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Bitterness 1.1 · Fruity 1.0 · Heat 0.8 · Floral 0.8 · Nutty 0.7 · Citrus 0.5

What's in it (16)

Time & effort: about 1 hr (30 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 64.6 kcal, 4.9 g protein, 2.2 g fat, 7.4 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (34 steps)

  1. Place the Basic Red Sauce in a large pot.
  2. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
  3. Place all the remaining meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Stir well with a wooden spoon to combine.
  5. Wash your hands then form the meat into balls by rolling 1 tablespoon of meat between them.
  6. Place meatballs on a plate as they are formed.
  7. (Hint: if your hands are slightly damp, the meatballs will roll more easily and will not stick to your hands!)
  8. When all the meatballs are formed, wash your hands again and then gently place the balls into the sauce 1 at a time using a long handled spoon.
  9. Be careful bubbling sauce splatters!
  10. Simmer the sauce uncovered, and allow the meatballs to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes before stirring.
  11. Stir the meatballs into the sauce when they rise to the top.
  12. Simmer for an additional 20 minutes, and stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  13. Remove from the heat, and serve immediately over cooked spaghetti.
  14. For the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
  15. Add the salt, olive oil and spaghetti.
  16. Reduce the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the spaghetti from sticking together.
  17. Drain the spaghetti in a colander set in a sink, pouring away from you.
  18. Toss in the pot with the sauce and meatballs and serve immediately.
  19. 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (1 medium yellow onion)
  20. 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
  21. 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  22. Heat the olive oil in a 5-quart pot over medium heat.
  23. Add the onions, garlic, salt, basil, oregano and black pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes.
  24. Place the tomatoes in a large bowl and squeeze to break into small pieces.
  25. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and sugar to the pot with the onions, and stir well.
  26. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  27. Lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled wooden spoon.
  28. Remove from the heat, and use as needed.
  29. You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
  30. Yield: 10 cups, 2 1/2 quarts
  31. Baby Bam Seasoning:
  32. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well to combine with a wooden spoon.
  33. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
  34. Yield: about 3/4 cup

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Keep reading: what umami, allium, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.