Who doesn't love and often crave comfort-food spaghetti and meatballs on a regular basis. This terrific recipe is almost verbatim from one of my all-time fave online Gluten-Free resources, Nicole Hunn of glutenfreeonashoestring.com. Who adapted it from Fine Cooking.
My add-ons ... 1/2 tsp. culinary lavender finely ground in my mortar and pestle (or a spice mill) and added along with the dried spices and herbs at the beginning of cooking as dried ones fare much better with crock pots and long cook times. As well as a finishing of chopped, fresh herbs added 5 to 10 minutes before the end of cooking for a more layered flavor.
Don't be put off by the long ingredient list; they're mostly herbs and spices and the whole thing comes together rather quickly. And the meatballs are unbelievably light and mouthwatering even when frozen! I like to freeze two each (they're large!) with some sauce in individual containers and reheat the amount I need for 2 to 3 minutes in the microwave while my Gluten-Free pasta is cooking.
You CAN use regular Parmesan or another hard cheese but, since I've gone dairy-free, I've been absolutely enamored of (I would kiss it if I could) of Violife "just like Parmesan". It truly is! Either way, this is an amazing dish ... and one I've been inspired to make this week. And doing it in the crockpot makes it totally great for those of us that work long hours. Bon appetito!
AuthorJill PlaceCategoryDairy-Free, Entree, Food-Sensitive, Gluten-Free, PastaDifficultyIntermediateWho doesn't love and often crave comfort-food spaghetti and meatballs on a regular basis. This terrific recipe is almost verbatim from one of my all-time fave online Gluten-Free resources, Nicole Hunn of glutenfreeonashoestring.com. Who adapted it from Fine Cooking.
Place the breadcrumbs and wine in a small bowl and combine. Allow the breadcrumbs to soak in the wine while you prepare the sauce.
In the crock of a slow-cooker (I used my 3.5 quart but any size 3.5 and up will do), place all of the tomato sauce ingredients and whisk ot combine well.
In a large bowl, place the ground pork and ground beef, and break up the meat gently with your fingers.
Add the remaining meatball ingredients in the order listed, mixing gently to combine with your fingers. Do not overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.
Add the breadcrumb mixture and mix until just combined with your fingers.
Divide the meatball mixture into 12 to 14 pieces and roll each gently into a ball.
Nestle each meatball into the tomato sauce in the crock.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours until the meatballs are cooked through. They can remain on your slow cooker's WARM setting for up to 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle in the chopped fresh herbs and cook on HIGH for 5 to 10 minutes to finish.
Prepare the gluten-free pasta of your choice according to package directions. Drain.
Turn cooked meatballs over in the sauce to coat completely. Place pasta on plate and cover with 2 to 3 meatballs and adequate sauce. Top with grated Parmesan or Parmesan alternative).
Ingredients
Directions
Place the breadcrumbs and wine in a small bowl and combine. Allow the breadcrumbs to soak in the wine while you prepare the sauce.
In the crock of a slow-cooker (I used my 3.5 quart but any size 3.5 and up will do), place all of the tomato sauce ingredients and whisk ot combine well.
In a large bowl, place the ground pork and ground beef, and break up the meat gently with your fingers.
Add the remaining meatball ingredients in the order listed, mixing gently to combine with your fingers. Do not overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.
Add the breadcrumb mixture and mix until just combined with your fingers.
Divide the meatball mixture into 12 to 14 pieces and roll each gently into a ball.
Nestle each meatball into the tomato sauce in the crock.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours until the meatballs are cooked through. They can remain on your slow cooker's WARM setting for up to 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle in the chopped fresh herbs and cook on HIGH for 5 to 10 minutes to finish.
Prepare the gluten-free pasta of your choice according to package directions. Drain.
Turn cooked meatballs over in the sauce to coat completely. Place pasta on plate and cover with 2 to 3 meatballs and adequate sauce. Top with grated Parmesan or Parmesan alternative).
Leave a Reply