Kielbasa and Meatballs with Basil Tomatoes

  4.0 – 2 reviews  • Meatballs
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 25 min
Prep: 25 min
Cook: 1 hr
Yield: approximately 12 servings

Ingredients

  1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  2. 1 large red onion, diced
  3. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  4. 1 red bell pepper, stem and seeds removed and sliced
  5. 1 green bell pepper, stem and seeds removed and sliced
  6. 1 (29 to 32-ounce) can chopped plum tomatoes in puree
  7. 1 bunch fresh basil, thoroughly rinsed, leaves stripped from stems and cut chiffonade, and stems bundled with kitchen twine
  8. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
  9. 1 pound smoked kielbasa
  10. 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
  11. 1/4 cup milk
  12. 1 white onion, diced
  13. 2 eggs
  14. 1 tablespoon finely diced fresh parsley leaves
  15. 1 pound ground beef
  16. 1 dozen Italian style rolls, sliced

Instructions

  1. For the sauce: Heat olive oil in a saucepan and saute onion and garlic until translucent, being careful not to burn. Stir in sliced peppers and gently cook until softened. Stir in tomatoes, fresh basil leaves bundled basil stems, season with salt and pepper and let cook gently to let flavors integrate.
  2. For the kielbasa: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
  3. While the sauce is cooking, heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Cook kielbasa until they begin to brown being careful to keep heat at medium so they don’t split. Transfer to a large baking dish with a slotted spoon, reserving the drippings in the skillet to sear the meatballs.
  4. For the meatballs: While the kielbasa are cooking, mix breadcrumbs, milk, onions, eggs, and parsley in a mixing bowl. Add ground beef and mix thoroughly. Form into small meatballs and sear in the pan in which the kielbasa were cooked. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the baking dish with the kielbasa. Pour the sauce over the kielbasa and meatballs, and cover with a lid or foil, and finish in the oven for about 20 minutes.
  5. Serve as sandwiches with Italian rolls.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 12 servings
Calories 462
Total Fat 25 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Carbohydrates 40 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugar 6 g
Protein 19 g
Cholesterol 79 mg
Sodium 624 mg

Reviews

Kimberly Cunningham
Great for a gathering. The saltiness of the kielbasa blends well with the meatballs. The two different textures really work. By the way – you can even cheat and buy premade good quality meatballs – and the recipe STILL works. I am telling you – you can’t go wrong
Zachary Jackson
The recipe was good, if you use it for either the Kielbasa OR the meatballs. Not both. It was an odd flavor combination, at least for my family. I’ll make it again, but I’ll only use one of the meats.

 

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