I’m making meatball subs this week. You may think that meatball subs are strikingly similar to my sausage and peppers, but this is entirely different. This time, I also baked the rolls!
This was my first foray into bread baking and the first time that I used live yeast so I was pretty nervous right up until I took the fresh rolls out of the oven. I chose a recipe for Hoagie Rolls based on the total time needed to prepare them; I wanted a recipe that would take about an hour since I was going to make them after work and eat them for dinner that night. This recipe is fantastic for a beginner!
Below are some of the highlights of the make your own bread process:
- My yeast bubbled with the addition of water and sugar – proving that it was alive and well!
- Here’s the dough ready to rise.
- After 40 tense minutes or waiting, the dough had risen!
- Hoagies are formed and ready to bake.
- Success! The lighting isn’t the greatest in this photo; the rolls were a nice golden brown.
The meatballs are, like many of my favorite dishes, not something I have a recipe for – they’re just something I make with what I have on hand. Here’s (approximately) what you need:
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons dried Basil
- 2 tablespoons dried Oregano
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
- Half of a large white onion, minced
- 1 ½ cups Ricotta cheese
- Salt to taste
This was the first time I included Ricotta in my meatballs – it was at the suggestion of a coworker, and it was an amazing addition!
Sauce
- Tomato Sauce – I used about 40 ounces
- Half of a large white onion, minced
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- Olive Oil
- Salt to taste
Here’s what you do:
Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, basil, oregano, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion, cheese, and salt.
- Mix until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Form into individual meatballs – about 2 inches in diameter.
- Fry the meatballs on medium heat until, rotating as necessary to cook evenly.
Sauce
- Saute the garlic and onions in olive oil for about 10 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce to the pan and salt to taste.
- Allow the sauce to simmer while you prepare and cook the meatballs.
- Once the meatballs are evenly cooked, you can add them to the sauce and simmer until the bread is ready to serve.
Baking my own bread was a super satisfying. I was able to take a few simple ingredients and make a fairly substantial part of my meal. As with all the recipes I post, I encourage you to try these at home and make them your own.
For more on bread-making techniques, try one of The Chopping Block's bread making classes like our Artisanal Breads this fall.
