Ingredients

• 1 slice bread
• Milk, for soaking the bread
• 1 pound ground meat (beef, pork and veal)
• 1/3 cup grated Romano cheese
• Handful fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• Big pinch of kosher salt
• Big pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large egg, beaten
• Olive oil, for frying
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Two 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh basil, for garnish
• Cooked pasta, for serving

Instructions

1. For the meatballs: Put the bread in a small bowl and add just enough milk to cover. Let soak for 5 minutes.
2. Add the meat, cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, egg and soaked bread to a large bowl and mix lightly with your hands; do not overwork. Form the mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a healthy drizzle of olive oil. Working in batches, fry the meatballs in the skillet until all sides are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside.
4. For the marinara sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the Italian seasoning and onions and sweat the onions until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes and meatballs, bring to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh basil.
5. Serve the meatballs and marinara over your favorite pasta.