Homemade Meatballs & Marinara Sauce

Homemade meatballs AND homemade marinara sauce -- YUM! This is actually the same recipe I use for marinara sauce, but the meatballs were new! They turned out delicious, and for those interested, this dish is paleo! This dish does take a bit of time to prepare -- I think I was in the kitchen for about two hours, but I had wine to get me through, so it's all good :) You don't even need pasta for these because they are so yummy as-is.

Marinara Sauce Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium yellow onion-diced

4 cloves garlic-crushed, diced, chopped…however you like it

Bunch of basil

2 28 0z. cans of whole organic tomatoes with their juice

1 tablespoon oregano

salt and pepper to taste

Combine both cans of whole tomatoes with their juice and the bunch of basil in a food processor or blender. Pulse until smooth and set aside. Place olive oil, onions and garlic in a saute pan and cook over medium heat until translucent and soft…about 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once boiling, let the sauce simmer on low for about an hour.

Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground pork (feel free to use ground turkey or chicken…whatever you feel like I am sure will work)

1/2 onion – diced

1/2 cup fresh basil

1/2 cup parsley

1 cup loose-leaf spinach

4 eggs

1/2 cup almond meal

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1/2 cup tomato/marinara sauce

4 cloves crushed garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Place basil, parsley, and spinach in food processor…give it a couple pulses to chop. Place all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix together…I use my hands…I find it is the best way to get everything mixed evenly. Next I use my scoop to make golf ball sized meatballs.