Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
- 1 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 7 cloves garlic, peeled and slivered or minced
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 large fresh basil sprig, or ¼ teaspoon dried basil
Sandwich
- 4 French rolls
- Butter, for spreading
- Garlic powder, for sprinkling
- 12 to 16 large meatballs, fully cooked and warmed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil, optional for topping
Instructions
- Prepare Quick Marinara Sauce: Using an immersion blender, food processor, or blender, process the whole San Marzano tomatoes until they reach the texture of chunky salsa. Alternatively, crush them by hand in a bowl, keeping all the juices.
- Cook the Sauce: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook just until it starts to turn lightly golden, being careful not to burn it. Stir in the pureed tomatoes along with their juices, water, salt, sugar, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and the fresh basil sprig. Cover with a splatter screen and bring to a simmer, adjusting the heat as needed. Let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes until thickened. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
- Remove Basil Sprig: Take out the fresh basil sprig from the sauce and discard it.
- Toast French Rolls: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Butter both sides of each French roll and sprinkle garlic powder on top. Place the rolls on a baking sheet and bake for 3 to 4 minutes until they are lightly toasted.
- Assemble Meatball Sandwiches: Spread a couple of tablespoons of the prepared marinara sauce on both sides of each toasted French roll. Place 3 to 4 warmed meatballs on the bottom half, then sprinkle with about ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Melt the Cheese: Bake the assembled sandwiches in the oven for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the mozzarella cheese melts and bubbles.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, add fresh basil leaves on top before serving. Enjoy your delicious and comforting meatball sandwiches!
Notes
- Use fully cooked meatballs to speed up preparation time.
- You can substitute San Marzano tomatoes with high-quality canned whole tomatoes if unavailable.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- To save time, leftover marinara sauce can be used instead of making the sauce from scratch.
- For a healthier version, consider using whole grain French rolls and low-fat cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
