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1
Prepare sauce: In an ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm oil.
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2
Add onions and saute until soft, about 6 minutes.
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3
Add garlic, and cook for 1 minute longer.
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4
Stir in tomatoes and salt and reduce heat to medium-low.
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5
Simmer sauce, occasionally mashing tomatoes against side of pot with a wooden spoon, until they break down and sauce thickens, about 25 minutes.
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6
Let cool slightly.
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7
Pass sauce through coarsest disc of a food mill, or puree it until smooth in a food processor or blender.
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8
Return sauce to pot.
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9
Prepare meatballs: Soak baguette in enough water to cover until soft and falling apart.
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10
Squeeze dry.
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11
In a very large skillet over medium heat, warm 3 tablespoons oil.
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12
Add onions and saute until translucent but not browned, about 8 minutes.
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13
Add garlic, stir well, and turn off heat.
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14
Let cool.
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15
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
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16
In a large bowl, combine lamb, pork, cheese, parsley, mint, pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, onion mixture and bread.
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17
Using your hands, mix well.
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18
Form mixture into 1 3/4-inch meatballs.
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19
Add remaining oil to pan, and warm it over medium-high heat.
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20
Fry meatballs, turning on all sides, until well browned.
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21
Transfer meatballs to platters lined with paper towels.
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22
Add wine to skillet, and let it simmer for a few minutes, scraping up any browned bits stuck to bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
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23
Pour wine into tomato sauce and add meatballs.
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24
Cover pot and bake for 30 minutes.
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25
Just before serving, heat broiler.
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26
Brush baguette slices with olive oil.
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27
Toast them under broiler until golden around edges, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
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28
Serve meatballs with sauce, crostini and extra cheese.