Everybody loves a good pasta dish. This Pappardelle with Meatballs, Spicy Sausage & Herbed Ricotta is sure to make your people happy!
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
If this old adage doesn’t ring true here – I don’t know what will.
It is true. It is true that I am challenged (highly challenged) to partake in a meatball that isn’t prepared by a family member. I believe many (if not all) individuals of Italian descent will tell you that the best Italian food comes from their mom and grand-mom’s kitchen.
However, I was recently faced with a dilemma.
Twice this past month we dined out at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. And for some reason – both nights – I had a massive craving for pasta and meatballs. On their menu is Tagliatelle with Polpette – in other words – pasta and meatballs.
After nibbling down a few pieces of their famed stretch bread dipped in herby olive oil, and lingering over a perfect pour of a delicious red – all I could think about was pasta and meatballs.
So, I went for it. And you know what? It did not disappoint! I delighted in it so much that I ordered it again a week later.
I knew I needed to recreate this stunning platter for you……..and for me. 😉 (As you can see – when the craving for pasta hits – it hits me big time! It clobbers! 🙂 ) Thankfully, when this latest hankering struck – I had a pot of sauce with spicy Italian sausage and meatballs just hanging out in the fridge.
This meal is a gathering of components. All I needed to do was choose the pasta, grab some ricotta, heat things up and we. were. in. business.
So, if as a rule, you’re a person who makes Sunday sauce, you’ll be in quick business too.
COMPONENTS OF THIS DISH:
-
- Pasta (I used pappardelle)
- Tomato sauce
- Meatballs
- Spicy sausage
- Ricotta with fresh parsley
- Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Salt & cracked black pepper
So my friends, as the chillier weather descends, and the need for comfort in the form of pasta and meatballs clobbers you over the head, this dish is all too ready to help warm you up!
Buon Appetito!
MORE PAPPARDELLE:
Pappardelle with Lemony Swiss Chard Pesto with Pecorino & Pine Nuts
Pappardelle with Bolognese Sauce
If you decide to give Pappardelle with Meatballs, Spicy Sausage & Herbed Ricotta a whirl – I’d love your feedback and photos! Tag @ciaochowbambina on Instagram, or share to my Pinterest and Facebook page!
Pappardelle with Meatballs, Spicy Sausage & Herbed Ricotta
Description
Everybody loves a good pasta dish. This Pappardelle with Meatballs, Spicy Sausage & Herbed Ricotta is sure to make your people happy!
Ingredients
SAUCE
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 heaping cups chopped onion
¼ cup minced garlic
1 – 2 pounds Italian sausage cut into links
5 pounds tomatoes (San Marzano – whole, peeled and in their juice)
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
MEATBALLS
2 lbs. ground sirloin, pork, veal (in equal portion)
2 eggs
1 ½ cups grated Romano cheese
¾ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped garlic cloves
1 cup Italian bread crumbs, seasoned
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
PASTA
1 pound pappardelle pasta
1 cup ricotta
1 – 2 cups fresh parsley, chopped and divided
Parmigiano-Reggiano, shaved
Salt & black pepper, for taste
Instructions
For the sauce, place the olive oil and onion in a large sauce pot and sauté lightly.
Once the onions become translucent, add the garlic and sausage, making sure not to let the garlic burn (it will become bitter.)
Brown the sausage on all sides.
Next, add the tomatoes and their juice. Be sure to squash the tomatoes in your hand before delivering them to the pot.
Stir in the oregano, basil, sugar, salt and pepper.
Quickly bring sauce to a boil then lower to a simmer, stirring regularly.
Let simmer for 3 – 4 hours and until meat is fully cooked.
For the meatballs, combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Using your hands, mix the ingredients together.
Shape the mixture into 2-inch meatballs, making approximately 30 meatballs.
Gently place in sauce and cook for a couple of hours.
In the meantime, combine ricotta with 3 – 4 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Set aside.
When sauce is ready, prepare the pasta.
Cook in a large pot of salted, boiling water, until al dente.
Drain and return to the warm pot.
Add a few ladles of sauce, toss to coat. Use enough sauce to stain the pasta, not swim in it.
Portion the pasta on plates and top with a couple meatballs, sliced sausage, a few dollops of herbed ricotta, shaved Parm, salt, pepper, and more chopped parsley.
nice recipe .. thanks for sharing.
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Thank you!
This recipe looks delicious. I love pasta so much that i’m surely going to try this recipe <3 Thanks for sharing.
I love that! Enjoy, Marie! Thank you!!
Annie, this is a delicious looking recipe! I am in Tuscany at the moment, but will be saving this for when I get back home – I know I am going to have massive pasta cravings then!
Wish I were with you in Tuscany!! Have a beautiful time, my friend!!
Oh my, Annie! You come up with the most spectacular pasta combinations. Keith and I would devour this!!
Music to my ears, friend! Thank you!!
Pasta, pasta, pasta! Can’t get enough of pasta dishes during these cooler days. Love the herbed ricotta addition to this dish!
And a little goes a long way! Thanks, Kev!
Annie, I am absolutely drooling!! You make pasta look luscious, mouthwatering and DELICIOUS!!! I would love to have a big bowl of this in front of me right now!!!
Awhh! Thanks, friend!
Annie, heaven on a plate is what you have here! You have taken pasta with meatballs to a whole new level! Sooo swooning over the herbed ricotta!
Love herbed ricotta! My hubby could eat it on a cracker all day long!
Now I’m hungry for pasta and meatballs. I think I’m a lot like you and could eat this again and again.
Toooo easy to do, right?! Thanks, Kathy!
Love absolutely everything about this beautiful pasta dish! The sauce looks perfect and I”m loving those dollops of herbed ricotta!
All the comfort!! Thanks, Jennifer!!
My family would CRUSH this, Annie! We’re all about pasta, especially when sausage is involved!! Happy weekend my friend!
Yesss! We crushed it, too! Thanks, friend!
i love the recipe its great how you make it easy for us thanks definitely going to try it out 🙂
Thank you, Mary!!
Pasta and meatballs is very popular in our house, and I love that you added sausage and ricotta! Definitely takes pasta and meatballs up a notch! Pinned! Happy almost weekend Annie!
Yeah – let’s throw it all together! Thanks, Leanne! Happy weekend!
My pasta cravings hit big time too, lol. I could legit eat some every day…especially if it looked as good as this does, Annie! Swooning over here! Pinned and trying real soon 🙂 Happy weekend ahead! XOXO
Thanks so much, my friend! Perfect for these chillier days! xoxo
Now I want pasta for breakfast. This looks delicious, Annie! Happy Friday eve, my friend!
I adore leftover pasta for breakfast(!) and pizza and meatballs….okay, I’ll stop! Thanks, Kelsie!
This meal has my husband’s name written all over it Annie! It looks so hearty, flavorful and delicious! I love the thick pappardelle pasta and the added ricotta! Pinned!
Yeah – this didn’t stand a chance with my husband and son either! Thanks, Mary Ann!