Cherry-Smoked Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

By Sprig Originals ✓ · cooked up in Sprig

Big, tender pork-and-beef meatballs take on an hour of sweet cherry smoke, then finish bubbling in a pan of tomato sauce right on the smoker so every bit of that smoky flavour ends up in the gravy. Twelve ingredients, one foil pan, and a Sunday-supper result with almost no hands-on work. Pile them over spaghetti or into rolls with melty cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan
• 4 cloves garlic, finely grated
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

• 48 oz jarred marinara sauce (two 24 oz jars)

Instructions

1. Set up your smoker for indirect cooking at 250°F (120°C) and add 2 or 3 chunks of cherry wood. Let it settle until the smoke runs thin and blue, about 15 minutes.
2. While it heats, stir the breadcrumbs and milk together in a large bowl and let them soak for 5 minutes, then mix in the eggs, parmesan, garlic, parsley, fennel seeds, salt and pepper.
3. Add the ground beef and pork and mix with your hands just until combined — overworking makes the meatballs tough. Roll into 18 balls, about 2 inches each, and set them on a wire rack or directly on a lightly oiled grate.
4. Smoke the meatballs at 250°F for 55 to 65 minutes, until they are burnished brown and register 150–155°F (66–68°C) in the centre on an instant-read thermometer. Do not open the lid for the first 40 minutes.
5. Pour the marinara into a 9x13-inch foil pan and nestle the smoked meatballs in, turning to coat. Return the pan to the smoker, uncovered.
6. Cook for another 35 to 45 minutes at 250°F, until the sauce is bubbling at the edges and the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
7. Rest the pan off the heat for 10 minutes, stir gently so the smoky fat blends into the sauce, and serve over spaghetti or in rolls with extra parmesan.

Chef's tips

Nutrition (per serving, estimated)

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