Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Mini Meatball Sammies -- 08/28/07

Mini Meatball Sammies

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 small carrot
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 3 pinches fresh thyme
  • 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/3 pound ground sirloin
  • 1/3 pound ground pork
  • 1/3 pound ground veal
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup (2 handfuls) bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup (a handful) grated cheese
  • 1/4 cup (a handful) fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup chicken stock to thin sauce
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • 4 slices mozzarella cheese

Yields: 8 mini sandwiches

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place a medium-size sauce pot over medium-high heat, add EVOO. Add the onion, carrot and celery, and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for another minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, turn heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes.

In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine meats with egg, garlic, bread crumbs, milk, grated cheese, parsley, red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Form into mini meatballs.

Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Thin the sauce with chicken stock as the sauce thickens, or as needed.

Cut about 1/4 inch off of each end of the bun and then cut in half so you 2 mini buns. Place a couple strips of cheese on each mini bun and then place a couple meatballs on that. Top with a little sauce and enjoy!