Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCarmelina'sBronx Tale Recipe

Bronx Tale Recipe

Inspired by Carmelina's
Time1h 30m
Serves4

Mimmo's meatballs and Sulmona sausage, slow cooked tomato sauce, tossed with penne.

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Ingredients

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Meatballs

Sausage

Tomato Sauce

Pasta

Method

Meatballs

  1. 1

    Prepare the Meatball Mixture

    In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

  2. 2

    Form the Meatballs

    Using your hands, form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  3. 3

    Bake the Meatballs

    Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the meatballs for 25-30 minutes, or until they are cooked through and lightly browned.

Sausage

  1. 4

    Cook the Sausage

    In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Sulmona sausage until browned on all sides. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Tomato Sauce

  1. 5

    Sauté the Onions and Garlic

    In the same skillet used for the sausage, add olive oil. Sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

  2. 6

    Add Tomatoes and Seasonings

    Add canned crushed tomatoes, dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine.

  3. 7

    Simmer the Sauce

    Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pasta

  1. 8

    Cook the Penne Pasta

    In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  2. 9

    Combine Everything

    Once the sauce is ready, add the baked meatballs and cooked penne pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.

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