Ingredients:
For the meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the bolognese sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
For the garlic bread:
1 loaf Italian bread or baguette
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
For topping:
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients (ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, parsley, milk, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper). Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. You should get approximately 20 meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, add chopped onion, minced garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
While the sauce is simmering, prepare the garlic bread. Cut the Italian bread or baguette in half lengthwise. In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of the bread.
Place the garlic bread on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until the bread is toasted and golden.
Once the garlic bread is ready, take it out of the oven and spread a generous amount of bolognese sauce on each half of the bread. Place the meatballs on top of the sauce and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.
Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Slice the garlic bread into serving-sized pieces and serve warm.
