Sweet Summer Tomato Marinara with Grana Padano Meatballs and Spaghetti

Spaghetti tossed in local sweet cherry tomatoes and basil topped with juicy parmesan meatballs.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 30-35 minutes

Calories: 894 Fat: 38g Carbs: 80g Protein: 62g

Hmong cherry tomatoes steal the show in this dish. They are just coming into season and are beautiful. Red, yellow and purple cherry tomatoes with a nice sweet bite pair nicely with the rich grass fed beef, meatballs.

Ingredients

Cherry Tomatoes

Tomato sauce

Rosemary

Basil

Garlic

Grass Run Farms Ground Beef

Fresh spaghetti

Grana Padano

Featured Ingredient Partners:

Fresh spaghetti: Dumpling & Strand - Minneapolis, MN

Ground beef: Grass Run Farms - Dorchester, IA

Basil: Harmony Valley Farm

Simmer To stew gently below or just at boiling point.

Sear To cook the surface of meat very quickly with intense heat.

Al Dente Literally to the tooth. Describes the ideal texture of cooked pasta that leaves it with a slight bite, rather than becoming mushy.

Large sauté pan

Medium pot

Medium mixing bowl

Step 1: MISE EN PLACE

Read through entire recipe before getting started. Rinse and dry all produce. Bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil in a medium pot. Remove rosemary leaves from stem and chop. Remove basil from stems. Mince or grate the garlic. Remove ground beef from package and place in a medium mixing bowl.

Step 2: MAKE THE MEATBALLS

Season the beef with 1 tsp of salt, a pinch of cracked black pepper, half of the minced garlic, half of the chopped rosemary and 3/4’s of the Grana Padano. Using your hand or a fork mix until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. Roll out about 6-8 meatballs and place on a plate.

Step 3: MAKE THE SAUCE

In a large sauté pan over medium heat add 1 Tbsp. of oil. Add tomatoes and sauté, covered, for 5-6 minutes. Add tomato sauce, garlic and basil. Simmer for 6-8 minutes while breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon. While simmering move on to sear the meatballs (step #4).

Step 4: SEAR THE MEATBALLS

In a large sauté pan over medium heat add 1 Tbsp. of oil. When hot add the meatballs to the pan. Sear on all sides by rolling the meatballs around as the cook, about 6-7 minutes. Turn off heat and keep meatballs in the pan. While the meatballs are cooking move on to cook spaghetti (step #5).

Step 5: COOK THE SPAGHETTI

Add fettuccine to the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until al dente, drain well.

Step 6: PLATE YOUR DISH

Divide the pasta up between 2 bowls. Divide the sauce and meatballs between 2 bowls and pour over the noodles. Garnish with the remaining Grana Padano.