It’s National Meatball Day!!  To honor the humble meatball, I’ve used it as part of the Pasta of the Month!  And you get…

Although associated with Italian cuisine, the true history of the meatball is unknown, but, kofta seems to be the earliest known meatball.  Kofta originated with the ancient Persians.  It is a dish of ground meats mixed with rice, bulgar or lentils.  Those little chunks of meat found their way into Europe through trade routes from the middle Easter countries.  Today they are shaped into gargantuan balls and served with a myriad of bases and sauces.

So Happy Meatball day!How to Do it:

Start with the meatballs.  Mix all the ingredients (except the olive oil) until everything is well incorporated.

Form into 12 large balls.  Heat the oil in a deep skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides.

Remove from the skillet to an oven proof pan and place in a preheated, 350 degree oven.

Next the mac and cheese.  Create a roux by melting the butter and stirring in the flour.  Cook until it is very lightly brown.  Using a whisk, stir in the half and half, milk, salt and pepper.  When mixture is slightly thickened, add the pasta and cheese.  Mix well.  Pour into a casserole dish

and bake for about 20 -25 minutes, or until browned on top.  (Should have pasta and meatballs in the oven now….)

While the meatballs and pasta are baking, make the sauce.  Drain the olive oil from the skillet, but try to keep all the little meatball bits.  Melt the butter and loosen the browned bits from the pan.  Again, create a roux with the butter and flour.  Let it brown a little so it has a nutty taste.  Using a whisk, stir in the half and half.  When it starts to thicken just a little, stir in the cheese.  Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick.

To serve, place a cup full of pasta in a bowl.  Top with three meatballs and some sauce.  Pure deliciousness!

Serves 4

Print ^[1]

Mac & Cheese with Spicy Pork Meatballs

Although associated with Italian cuisine, the true history of the meatball is unknown, but, kofta seems to be the earliest known meatball. Kofta originated with the ancient Persians. It is a dish of ground meats mixed with rice, bulgar or lentils. Those little chunks of meat found their way into Europe through trade routes from the middle Easter countries. Today they are shaped into gargantuan balls and served with a myriad of bases and sauces.

So Happy Meatball day!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheese, macaroni, meatball, noodle, pasta, pork

Servings: 4 people

Author: HelenFern

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1/4 cup minced celery
• 1-1/2 pounds ground pork
• 2 whole cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, (depending on how much you like heat)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil

Mac & Cheese

• 3 cups cooked penne pasta
• 1 cup grated gruyere cheese
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 Tablespoon flour
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 Tablespoon flour
• 1 cup half and half
• 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese

Instructions

Meatballs

1. Start with the meatballs. Mix all the ingredients (except the olive oil) until everything is well incorporated.

2. Form into 12 large balls. Heat the oil in a deep skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides.

3. Remove from the skillet to an oven proof pan and place in a preheated, 350 degree oven.

Mac & Cheese

1. Next the mac and cheese. Create a roux by melting the butter and stirring in the flour. 

2. Cook until it is very lightly brown. Using a whisk, stir in the half and half, milk, salt and pepper. When mixture is slightly thickened.

3.  Add the pasta and cheese. Mix well. 

4. Pour into a casserole dish and bake for about 20 -25 minutes, or until browned on top. (Should have pasta and meatballs in the oven now….)

Blue Cheese Sauce

1. While the meatballs and pasta are baking, make the sauce. Drain the olive oil from the skillet, but try to keep all the little meatball bits. 

2. Melt the butter and loosen the browned bits from the pan. Again, create a roux with the butter and flour. Let it brown a little so it has a nutty taste. 

3.  Using a whisk, stir in the half and half. When it starts to thicken just a little, stir in the cheese. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick.

To Serve:

1. Place a cup full of pasta in a bowl. Top with three meatballs and some sauce. Pure deliciousness!

Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!

Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links through Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

© Copyright 2017 The Lazy Gastronome

You  might also like …

Click here to check it out! ^[3]

Craving comfort food but homemade takes so much time and work?  Not this comfort food!  The most time is spent baking it in the oven.  You can even make it the night before and bake it the day of!  And it’s delicious –  cheesy, creamy, smooth and belly warming –  Check it out!

^[7]

What you need:

• 1 ½ cup dry elbow macaroni (I used whole wheat)
• 2 Tablespoons of butter
• 1 oz cream cheese
• 1/3 cup of milk
• 1 ¼ cup each of grated extra sharp cheddar and gouda cheese
• Salt and Pepper to taste

How to Do it:

Bring 2-3 quarts of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt.  Cook the pasta until it is al dente – or soft but still firm.

Drain the pasta and leave in strainer.

Add the butter and cream cheese to the sauce pan.  Heat, stirring, until it starts to melt together.  Return the pasta to the pan and stir until the cream cheese and butter are melted and well mixed into the pasta.  Add the milk and stir.  Gently stir in all the cheese except about ½ cup for the top.  Make sure it is evenly distributed.

Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.

^[8]

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.   Turn the oven to broil and broil the top until it is golden brown (about 5 minutes).  Serve piping hot.

^[9]

I love Macaroni and Cheese with pork chops.  Using garlic salt, pepper and some sage – cook on medium-high until golden and cooked through. If you use a grill pan you get great grill marks and less fat.  Serve with a veggie and you have dinner!

^[10]

Serves 4

© Copyright 2015 The Lazy Gastronome