This is a household that loves it's meatballs. This is a house that will try just about any flavor combination when it comes to meatballs. Dang this was good. I have made a similar dish you can see here. But this one? With bacon, a mushroom sauce, made without cream - it turned out better than wonderful! Plus the fresh spinach in this creamy sauce was divine.
1 lb. organic lean ground beef
3 slices bacon, finely chopped, and cooked
1/4 of a large onion, finely diced
2 Tblsp. fresh minced Flat Leaf Italian Parsley
1 egg
3 Tblsp. gluten free bread crumbs
3 Tblsp. Parmesan Cheese
Salt, and lots of fresh cracked Pepper
1/2 a pkg. of Gluten free Spaghetti
Mushroom Sauce:
renderings from the bacon
1 Tblsp. butter
1 very large crimini mushroom, diced
1 large shallot diced
4 finely minced garlic cloves
2 1/2 cups freshly chopped spinach
2/3-3/4 cup chicken stock
3 big Tblsp. Sweet Rice Flour (or more, check your sauce for thickness)
2-3 cups milk - gage amount of milk to the thickness you want for a sauce (we used a neutral tasting soy milk)
grated Parmesan and Asiago Cheese
To a bowl combine the ground beef, onion, parsley, egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, the cooked (cooled) bacon, salt and pepper. Mix to combine, and roll into balls - this made 16. Transfer to a plate. Heat up the frying pan on medium heat using the bacon renderings and 1 Tblsp. of butter. Brown the meatballs on each side - about 6-7 minutes per side, then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
To the pan, saute the mushrooms, shallot and garlic until the mushrooms are a light golden color. Add in the chicken stock and fresh spinach. Turn down to a simmer, and reduce to half.
Sprinkle in the Sweet Rice Flour, whisking to thicken. Pour in the milk, whisking until a sauce consistency is reached.
Return the meatballs to the pan, turn down to a low simmer, cover for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile cook your pasta. Drain the pasta, and place onto a platter. Pour over the meatballs and mushroom sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese and grated Asiago cheese and serve piping hot.
Wow Ina,
The cremini mushrooms and parmesan cheese sounds incredible! Such a satisfying meal!
Thanks Asmita! Don't you just love meatballs? We love them every which way!
Wow, bacon meatballs? My girls would definitely love these. I will have to try them. 🙂
Erin...bacon make everything better, doesn't it? 🙂
I just made this tonight and it was delicious! A very hearty meal, but ever so worth it. Thank you for sharing it.
Adam - you are so welcome, glad you enjoyed it!