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Linguine with Meatballs in Blush Tomato Asiago Sauce

Linguine with Meatballs in Blush Tomato Asiago Sauce. Juicy, tender meatballs in a deeply flavourful tomato sauce complemented with cream & asiago cheese.

Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian Inspired
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 805 kcal
Author Barry C. Parsons

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1 cup coarse bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 pound Italian sausage meat
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp ground thyme
  • 1 tsp dry oregano
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil for frying

For the sauce

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ minced medium onion
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 4 ounces smoked bacon chopped into small pieces and fully cooked to crisp
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 19 oz can plain tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp basil
  • 2 tsp fennel seed or ground fennel seed
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 3/4 cup grated asiago cheese
  • Chopped basil for garnish
  • 1 pound dry linguine noodles cooked to al dente in salted water and drained.

Instructions

To prepare the meatballs

  1. Mix together the breadcrumbs and milk until well combined.
  2. Set aside for five minutes before adding the sausage, ground beef, egg, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper.
  3. Form into 1 ½ inch balls and fry in the 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat to brown them on all sides.

To prepare the sauce

  1. Sauté together the olive oil, onion and garlic until the onions have softened but not browned. Add all of the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the whipping cream and asiago cheese.
  2. Simmer very slowly for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, before adding the meatballs for an additional 10 minutes.
  3. Just before serving finish the sauce by adding the whipping cream and asiago cheese.
  4. Simmer while stirring for 5 minutes.
  5. Serve over cooked linguine. Top with grated asiago cheese and chopped fresh basil.

Recipe Notes

Season the meatballs and very lightly. There is plenty of salt in the cheese, bacon and sausage to sufficiently season the dish.