International » Italian Sunday Gravy
Ingredients
For Marinara (makes 5-6 qts)
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 6 cans (28 oz each) whole, peeled tomatoes (San Marzano suggested)
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- basil leaves, chopped or torn
For Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean/ 15% fat)
- ½ lb ground pork
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- black pepper to taste
- salt to taste
For Braciole
- 2 pieces "braciole" beef (6 oz each), found in Italian specialty markets
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- 2 tbsp golden raisins
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- black pepper to taste
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped basil
Additional Gravy Ingredients
- 2-4 cups canola oil to fry meat
- 1 rack baby back pork ribs, separated
- 2 links each hot & sweet Italian sausages
To Garnish
- chopped parsley (optional)
How-to
Make Classic Marinara Sauce (watch the video)
- Add canola oil to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté onions until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside. Do not discard pan with oil
- Meanwhile in food processor, blend tomatoes for about 30 seconds or until just smooth
- Add the pureed tomatoes to the pot with the oil. Add the cooked onions. Season with salt and pepper
- Bring to a boil then lower heat and let simmer for approximately 45-60 minutes over medium-low heat, adding a few (whole or chopped) basil leaves after 45 minutes. Set aside
Make Meatballs
-
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Form into 12-15 meatballs, about 1" - 1½" in size each. Set aside
Roll Braciole
- Lay meat flat on your work surface, working with one piece at a time
- Sprinkle cheese, pine nuts, golden raisins, chopped basil, garlic, salt and pepper atop both pieces of meat
- Roll tightly starting at one of the short ends and fasten with butcher's twine
Brown Meat & Simmer
- Heat canola oil in pan over medium-high. The amount of oil used will depend on how large your pan is -- you want the oil to reach about halfway up your meatballs and ribs when browning them
- Start browning meats in batches, beginning with both pieces of rolled braciole, the ribs and meatballs. Do not overcrowd the pan
- Remove meats to the large pot of marinara. Brown sausage links on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove to marinara along with other meats
- Bring to a low boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook 45 minutes
- Remove meats to a plate. Cut away the butcher's twine from the braciole and slice into ½" pieces
- Serve family-style with ample amounts of marinara ("gravy") on the side. Garnish with parsley if desired
Carla & Christine Pallotta
Carla and Christine Pallotta are chef/owners of nebo ristorante in Boston's historic North End, just steps way from the TD Garden, home to the Boston Bruins and Celtics. These lively and entertaining sisters are originally from the North End and are proud to share the authentic Italian recipes of their grandmother and mother.
nebo
The Pallotta sisters Carla and Christine make an Italian-American traditional family meal known as "Sunday Gravy." For many Italian-American families, Sunday is a day of rest and gathering -- to the table for a family feast of assorted meats braised in marinara sauce ("gravy"). The Pallotta sisters' Sunday Gravy boasts braciole (thinly-sliced beef) stuffed with pine nuts, golden raisins, cheese and spices. They also make their favorite pork and beef meatballs. Just as you think this sounds like enough meat, the sisters brown up baby back pork ribs and sausage links to throw into their Classic Marinara sauce to simmer and cook as well. No one will be going hungry with this hearty meal! As mama would say, "mangia, mangia!"
Carla & Christine PallottaComments (0)
There are no comments for this post yet. Be the first to add a comment!
Add a Comment / Rate this Video
You must be logged in to comment!



















