Spaghetti 'In' Meat Balls

Name: Spaghetti 'In' Meat Balls
Ingredients: 2 cups bowtie pasta; 1/4 cup olive oil; 3/4 cup onion-small dice; 1 tablespoon garlic-minced; 1.5 pounds lean ground beef-grass fed; 2 eggs; 2 tablespoons paprika; 1 tablespoon nutmeg; 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons dried oregano; 1/2 cup dried currants (or diced dried cranberries or apricots); 1/4 cup pistachios-shelled; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1.5 cups tomato sauce (homemade or store bought-organic)-divided; 2 tablespoons salt; 1.5 tablespoons black pepper

16 ingredients

8 steps

Ingredients

2 cups bowtie pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup onion-small dice
1 tablespoon garlic-minced
1.5 pounds lean ground beef-grass fed
2 eggs
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1/2 cup dried currants (or diced dried cranberries or apricots)
1/4 cup pistachios-shelled
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1.5 cups tomato sauce (homemade or store bought-organic)-divided
2 tablespoons salt
1.5 tablespoons black pepper

Directions

1

In a saucepan, cook pasta according to directions; if you typically like it al dente, cook it 2 minutes longer this time; remove from heat, drizzle with 1 T olive oil (so it doesn't stick), and reserve.
2

Heat 2 T olive oil in a pan and add onions; cook until translucent.
3

Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer; remove contents of the pan and reserve.
4

In a large bowl, mix onion/garlic mixture, ground beef, eggs, paprika, nutmeg, cayenne, oregano, currants, pistachios, cheese, half of the tomato sauce, salt, and pepper.
5

Working in batches, dice bowties on a cutting board.
6

Add to the beef mixture and mix well.
7

Roll mixture into 1 to 2 inch balls.
8

On medium, heat 1 T olive oil in a pan and add meat balls to the pan; add the remaining 1/2 cup tomato sauce to the pan and cook for ~10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.