MICHAEL SYMON'S BEEF AND RICOTTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• 2 cup Wheat Bread (day old, diced)2 ounces Whole Milk1 1/2 pounds ground Beef (80/20 blend)1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese1 Garlic clove (minced)1 Shallot (minced)2 tablespoons Parsley leaves (if desired)1 Lemon (zested)1/2 teaspoon Coriander (if desired)1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon1 teaspoon Kosher Salt1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil (plus more as needed)1/2 cup Basil leaves1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
• Soak the bread in the milk in a medium-size bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the beef with all remaining ingredients. After the bread has thoroughly soaked up the milk, remove it from the bowl and ring out the remaining liquid. Thoroughly mix the bread into the meat mixture.
• Once the mixture is well combined, form it into 3 ounce balls using about 1/3 cup each. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the meatballs. Cook until golden on the outside (2 to 3 minutes per side). When meatballs are finished, add the sauce to the pan and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Place the finished meatballs in a bowl and garnish with torn basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.
• 4 cup Olive Oil1 large Spanish Onion (finely diced; 1 cup)6 Garlic cloves (sliced)1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt (or more to taste)
• For the Tomato Sauce:Heat oil in a 4 quart saucepan or large Dutch oven over medium heat, add the onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and salt and cook until everything is soft but not browned, about 3 minutes.
• 28-ounce cans San Marzano Tomatoes (with their juice)1 cup Dry White Wine1 Bay Leaf1 tablespoon fresh Oregano leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper1 tablespoon crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• Squeeze the tomatoes one by one into the pan, pulverizing them by hand and pour in their juice as well. Add the wine, bay leaf, oregano, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if applicable). Bring the sauce to a simmer, about 4 to 5 minutes then reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting and continue to cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. Remove bay leaf. If not using right away, let the sauce cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.