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When love is expressed through food, the result is often a divine and heartwarming experience. One such delicacy that embodies this sentiment is the meatball sub, a delightful combination of succulent meatballs nestled in a warm baguette, smothered in tangy tomato sauce and crowned with melty cheese. But what transforms a good meatball sub into a great one? Let’s dive in to find out!

The heart of any meatball sub is, of course, the meatball. The secret to creating the best meatball sub begins with crafting large, tender, and juicy meatballs that crumble at the slightest touch. A great meatball should be moist and flavorful, with a texture that seamlessly integrates with the sauce and bread, without any noticeable browning or crisping.

Crafting the Perfect Meatball Sub: A Step-by-Step Guide

The art of making a meatball sub is akin to constructing a beautiful building. Each layer plays a crucial role in the overall taste and texture of the sub. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building an irresistible meatball sub:

1. Choosing the Bread: The bread forms the base of the sub and should be chosen carefully. While baguettes are a popular choice for their crisp exterior and soft interior, feel free to experiment with other types of long bread, such as a submarine sandwich roll or a hoagie roll.
2. Buttering the Bread: No great sub is complete without a generous lather of butter on the bread. For an added flavor boost, consider using garlic butter. Remember, the bread will get toasty in the oven as the cheese melts, so there’s no need to toast it beforehand.
3. Saucing the Bread: After buttering, it’s time to sauce the bread. The sauce adds moisture and flavor to the sub, making every bite a delightful experience.
4. Adding Cheese and Meatballs: Next, add a layer of grated parmesan cheese, followed by the meatballs. Then, cover the meatballs with a layer of low-moisture mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of more parmesan.
5. Melting the Cheese: The final step in the assembly process is to melt the cheese. Place the open sub in the oven until the cheese is gooey and delicious. Top with additional sauce if desired, close the sub, and voila! You have a heavenly meatball sub ready to devour!

The Secret to Mouthwatering Meatballs

While the bread, sauce, and cheese play crucial roles, the real star of a meatball sub is, of course, the meatball. Here’s how to make the most tender and flavorful meatballs from scratch:

1. Soak Bread in Milk: Start by soaking some bread in milk. This simple step ensures the meatballs remain moist and juicy.
2. Gently Mix the Ingredients: Combine the soaked bread with ground beef, eggs, garlic, parmesan cheese, flat leaf parsley, salt, and pepper. Be sure to mix gently to avoid overworking the mixture.
3. Shape the Meatballs: Form the meatballs according to the size of the bread you’re using. Be careful not to pack them too tightly.
4. Braise the Meatballs: Finally, add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and gently braise them until they’re cooked through. Now they’re ready to be placed in their bread bed!

Dressing Up Your Meatball Sub

While the classic combination of meatballs, sauce, and cheese is hard to beat, you can add a variety of toppings to personalize your sub. Consider adding onions, peppers, mushrooms, provolone cheese, pepperoncini, jalapeños, or parsley. The sky’s the limit!

Crafting the Meatball Sub: A Recipe

Here’s a detailed recipe for crafting the perfect meatball sub. Remember, the key to a great sub is to use fresh and high-quality ingredients.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 3 cups of bread, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 lb of ground beef
• 3 eggs
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3/4 cups of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
• 4-5 cups of basic tomato sauce (or your favorite tomato sauce)

For the Sub

• 1 French demi baguette (or your choice of bread)
• 4 meatballs and sauce
• 2-4 slices of low moisture fresh mozzarella cheese
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, to serve

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a large skillet or saucepan with a lid, heat your tomato sauce over medium-low heat.
2. Place the bread cubes in a bowl and cover with milk, tossing to ensure all the cubes are saturated. After 1-2 minutes, squeeze out as much milk as possible using your hands. Break up the bread into very small breadcrumbs using your fingertips.
3. In a large bowl, combine the bread, ground beef, eggs, garlic, parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently to combine.
4. Once your sauce is simmering, form large meatballs and drop them directly into the sauce. Simmer in the sauce, partially covered, over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until cooked through (about 25-30 minutes).
5. Cut the baguette in half to create two sandwiches, then cut each sandwich lengthwise. Top both sides of the baguette with a generous amount of sauce and a sprinkle of grated parmesan. Place the meatballs on one half of the baguette and top with slices of mozzarella and more parmesan.
6. Bake until the cheese is gooey and melted. Top with the other half of the sandwich, and enjoy!