Meatballs and Pork Ribs in Tomato Sauce

Servings: 8 – 10

Total time: 1 hr 45 min

Ingredients

– 1 rack baby back pork ribs

– 1/2 medium onion, minced

– 3 cloves fresh garlic, roughly chopped

– 1/4 cup white wine

– 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

– 1 can tomato sauce or tomato puree (28 oz.)

– Salt

Ingredients for Meatballs

– 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

– 1/2 pound ground pork

– 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

– 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

– 1/8 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

– Pinch of nutmeg

– 2 large eggs

– 1 teaspoon milk

– 1/4 cup bread crumbs

– 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

– 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

– Salt

Directions

1. Put all ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Roll meatballs into 1 1/2 inch balls and set aside.

2. Remove the silver skin from the pork ribs and clean as necessary. Remove extra fat from the ribs if you choose. Cut the rack into individual ribs and season them lightly with salt.

3. In a large pan, heat the olive oil, white wine, onion and garlic for the sauce over medium heat. After the mixture has begun to simmer, add the meatballs and ribs to the pan and cook until browned on all sides.

4. Add the can of tomato sauce and 1/2 a can of fresh water into the pan. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and let it simmer for 35 – 40 minutes.

5. Uncover the pan, raise the heat to medium and let the mixture simmer another 10 minutes until the sauce reduces to a medium density. Taste and add salt as needed.

6. Plate and serve hot.