SAUCE
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 large cloves garlic,
grated or finely
chopped
2 tbsp. sun-dried tomato
paste
1/2 cup sweet (red)
vermouth or red wine
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 14-oz. can crushed
tomatoes
1 cup passata (uncooked
tomato puree) or 1 cup
tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
A few leaves of fresh
basil, torn
Kosher salt
PASTA
1 lb. spaghettiProvolone-Stuffed
Meatballs with Kale
SERVES 4
MEATBALLS
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
or panko
1/3 cup whole milk
1 lb. ground beef
Kosher salt and pepper
1 scant tbsp. Calabrian
chile paste or 1 tsp.
crushed red pepper
2 large cloves garlic,
grated or finely
chopped
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1 cup (packed) baby kale
or 1 cup (packed)
stemmed Tuscan kale,
finely chopped
1 cup grated Pecorino
Romano
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 to 3 oz. provolone, cut
into 1/2-inch cubes
Olive oil cooking spray
or olive oil for brushing
■Preheat the oven to 425°.
Line a rimmed baking sheet
with parchment paper.
Bring a large pot of water to
a boil for the pasta.
■For meatballs, in a
medium bowl, mix the
breadcrumbs and milk; let
stand until the crumbs
soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add
the beef; season with salt
and pepper. Add the chile
paste, garlic, and fennel
seeds. Mix in the kale,
Pecorino Romano, and egg.
Roll meat mixture into balls
about the size of a large
walnut. Press 1 cube of
provolone into each
meatball, then enclose the
cheese with the meat. Place
meatballs on the prepared
baking sheet; spray with
cooking spray or brush with
oil. Roast meatballs, turning
once, until golden and
cooked through, about
18 minutes.■Meanwhile, for the sauce,
in a large skillet, heat the
olive oil over medium.
Add the garlic and stir until
aromatic, 1 minute. Stir
in the tomato paste, then
the vermouth and oregano.
Stir in the tomatoes,
passata, stock, and basil.
Season with salt. Simmer
the sauce over low while the
meatballs finish cooking.
■For pasta, salt the boiling
water and add the pasta.
Cook until 1 minute shy
of the package directions;
drain the pasta. Add the
meatballs to the sauce and
turn to coat. Serve the
sauce and meatballs with
the spaghetti.