INGREDIENTS:
Meatballs:
¼ lb (123g) finely chopped mortadella / ham ~ $1.50+ (you won't use the whole box)
1 lb (454g) ground beef ~ $4+
1 ¾ tsp (12g) sea salt ~ (I won't include in the price because you probably already have salt!)
3 cloves garlic, minced ~ $1
1/3 cup (20g) fresh grated parmesan ~ $2
½ cup (35g) panko bread crumbs ~ $1 (you won't use the whole box)
1 egg ~ $0.20
Sauce:
¼ cup (50g) extra virgin olive oil - 50g ~ $0.50 (you won't use the whole jar)
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced ~ $1.50
1 tsp (2g) red pepper flakes ~ $0.20
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes ~ $2
1 Basil Bunch ~ $2 (price varies a lot depending on where you live)
Total = $16 / 4 servings = $4 per serving
We beat the goal!!
Note: It might cost you a lot more than 4 dollars per serving the 1st time you make this, since you won't be able to buy such small portions of the ingredient, but trust me you will want to make it again because it is so good!
Something I love about this recipe, is that it is completely your choice how expensive you want it to be. If money isn't a big problem for you, you can buy higher quality ingredients and make it a bit better, but if you want it to be cheaper it is still amazing!
Meatballs:
In a bowl, place your chopped mortadella/ham, combine it with the ground beef, fennel seed, salt, garlic, parmesan cheese, and black pepper, mix it well, and add the panko and eggs and mix again.
2. Form your meatballs into even lumps, you should be able to make about 20.
3. In a large sautee pan, over medium-high, pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan; once the oil is hot, add all the meatballs in one single layer, and sear for about two minutes, flip and sear one or two more sides, until golden brown. (it’s okay if there are not cook all the way) Remove the meatballs from the pan and reserve. It is OK if the meatballs aren't fully cooked, they will be cooked more with the sauce so don't worry about that.
Sauce:
In the same pan where the meatballs were cooked, reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic, and sautee for about five minutes. After that, add your salt, pepper flakes, and a pinch of sugar for sweetness.
Add your canned tomatoes, and saute those for a few minutes to reduce. The sauce should be a beautiful red color, like you can see in the picture.
Add the meatballs, bring them to a simmer, and reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for five to eight minutes. Add in some basil leaves here for extra flavor!
Plating:
I have never included anything about plating before, but I will in here because I think it can help take this dish to the next level, and it is a great way to practice since it is a relatively easy dish to plate.
The 1st step is getting your pasta down on the plate. This video is really helpful (0:00 to 0:26) How to plate pasta like a food stylist - YouTube. In the video they use a large fork, but if you don't have this I think it is easier to do with some kitchen tongs. The next step is to add a few meatballs, this is pretty easy to do, you just plop a few meatballs onto the pasta. Then add a bit of grated parmesan, and some basil chiffonade. For a video on how to do that, click this link: How to Chiffonade Basil - YouTube.
And there you have it! A delicious spaghetti and meatballs for as low as $4.
I got a lot of this recipe from Joshua Weissman, but I changed it up to fit what I thought made it best. If you want some great recipes, you can check out his youtube channel!