Meatball Subs with Basil Sauce

I adapted this recipe from Bon Appetit, and let me tell you, the addition of fennel is genius. The Italian sausage will normally include fennel seed, but this foreground the bright and unexpected flavor from fennel. Feeling daring? Throw in some of the fronds. And I doubled the basil sauce here vis a vis Bon Appetit, but you might want to double it again - you'll love it.

You'll need:

• 2 lb Italian sausage (remove casings)
• 1 fennel bulb, core and any tough outer layers removed
• 1 large onion, peeled and trimmed
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled
• 24 oz jarred marinara sauce or diced Italian tomatoes

For the basil sauce:

• 2 c fresh basil leaves
• 1 head garlic, peeled
• 3/4 c olive oil

For assembly:

• 6 hoagie rolls, split
• 16 oz fresh sliced mozzarella

Roll the sausage into 1-inch meatballs (about 2 heaping Tbs) and set aside. 

In a food processor, finely dice the fennel, onion, and 5 cloves garlic. Set aside.

Heat about 1/4 c olive oil in a large rimmed heavy pot over medium, and once it's hot, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, turning occasionally with tongs, until evenly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove meatballs to a plate. (You can do this in batches if you need to.)

Add 2 Tbs oil to the same pot and add the fennel mixture. Saute until it starts to brown, about 10 minutes.

Add the marinara sauce to the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, until it starts to thicken. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Return the meatballs to the pot and simmer about 20 minutes, until meatballs are fully cooked.

Meanwhile, process the basil, garlic, and olive oil for the sauce until well blended.

Heat your broiler on low. Split the hoagie rolls and brush them with about half the basil mixture. Lay the hoagies open on a baking sheet and put on the middle rack of the oven; broil about 2 minutes, until they start to toast. Remove from the oven.

Place meatballs with plenty of sauce in each hoagie roll, then top with slices of mozzarella. Return to the middle rack and broil until mozzarella melts and starts to bubble, 5 to 8 minutes.

Spoon the remaining basil mixture over the hoagies and serve.

Meatball Subs with Basil Sauce

Yield: 6 sandwiches

Author: Mallory

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 2 lb Italian sausage (remove casings)
• 1 fennel bulb, core and any tough outer layers removed
• 1 large onion, peeled and trimmed
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled
• 24 oz jarred marinara sauce

For the basil sauce:

• 2 c fresh basil leaves
• 1 head garlic, peeled
• 3/4 c olive oil

For assembly:

• 6 hoagie rolls, split
• 16 oz fresh sliced mozzarella

Instructions

1. Roll the sausage into 1-inch meatballs (about 2 heaping Tbs) and set aside.
2. In a food processor, finely dice the fennel, onion, and 5 cloves garlic. Set aside.
3. Heat about 1/4 c olive oil in a large rimmed heavy pot over medium, and once it's hot, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, turning occasionally with tongs, until evenly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove meatballs to a plate. (You can do this in batches if you need to.)
4. Add 2 Tbs oil to the same pot and add the fennel mixture. Saute until it starts to brown, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the marinara sauce to the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, until it starts to thicken. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Return the meatballs to the pot and simmer about 20 minutes, until meatballs are fully cooked.
6. Meanwhile, process the basil, garlic, and olive oil for the sauce until well blended.
7. Heat your broiler on low. Split the hoagie rolls and brush them with about half the basil mixture. Lay the hoagies open on a baking sheet and put on the middle rack of the oven; broil about 2 minutes, until they start to toast. Remove from the oven.
8. Place meatballs with plenty of sauce in each hoagie roll, then top with slices of mozzarella. Return to the middle rack and broil until mozzarella melts and starts to bubble, 5 to 8 minutes.
9. Spoon the remaining basil mixture over the hoagies and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

943.40

Fat (grams)

65.80

Sat. Fat (grams)

27.15

Carbs (grams)

34.32

Fiber (grams)

4.59

Net carbs

29.73

Sugar (grams)

12.87

Protein (grams)

52.59

Sodium (milligrams)

2520.17

Cholesterol (grams)

157.37

https://www.flanandsimple.com/2021/06/meatball-subs-with-basil-sauce.html

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