Fresh Linguine and Meatballs in Sugo di Pomodoro

For a taste of high-quality home cooking, look no further than this recipe for fresh linguine and meatballs with sugo di pomodoro. A classic dish made with authentic Italian flavours and only five ingredients, it comes together in under 30 minutes, thanks to the help of the Farm Boy chefs and butchers. Now that’s what we call good food from good neighbours!

We think you’ll love this simple pasta dish that’s convenient enough for busy weeknights without sacrificing quality or flavour. Pair with your favourite Farm Boy salad and enjoy!

 

Ingredients in Pomodoro Sauce

Farm Boy™ Sugo di Pomodoro Tomato Sauce is made with simple, wholesome ingredients, just like a traditional tomato sauce. Only a few ingredients are required in an authentic sugo di pomodoro, and our version—made fresh by our chefs—keeps it traditional for the best flavour and texture. The ingredients needed for a sugo di pomodoro are:

Olive Oil: Quality olive oil is a must for this classic Italian tomato sauce. In addition to adding flavour, olive oil provides a rich, velvety background for the other ingredients to shine. Our sugo di pomodoro is plush in texture and taste, thanks to the olive oil and no added water.

Tomatoes: Of course, tomatoes are needed for a tomato sauce. We use high-quality canned tomatoes for the best flavour in this sauce, blended for a smooth, even texture.

Tomato Paste: Not always required in a traditional sugo di pomodoro, we opted to incorporate fire-roasted tomato paste for an extra punch of tomato. Made with only two ingredients, it offers a more concentrated flavour for extra brightness.

Onions: Another ingredient that isn’t always used in a traditional pomodoro sauce, onions add extra flavour and natural sweetness to this dish. It’s an aromatic we like to include in recipes for added umami.

Garlic: It’s not an Italian recipe if there isn’t garlic! We love this ingredient for extra depth and flavour and, if we were making a sugo di pomodoro from scratch, we would definitely include a few cloves.

Salt: To cut the naturally occurring acid in the tomatoes, salt is a must. Salt also helps bring all the flavours together and mutes some of the sweetness.

Pepper: The companion to salt, it’s black pepper. If you were making your own sugo, you can add this to taste. (We like the freshly ground kind.)

Basil: Enhancing the freshness of the tomatoes, the classic Italian herb basil is also added to our pomodoro sauce. Fresh basil is ideal for an authentic sugo di pomodoro, although some recipes may also suggest adding oregano, thyme, or rosemary as well.

 

Pomodoro vs. Marinara

Both pomodoro and marinara are tomato sauces, but that’s about where the similarities end. Sugo di pomodoro is made with minimal ingredients and blended for a smooth, luscious mouthfeel. It doesn’t contain added water, making for a richer texture without any runniness.

Marinara sauce, on the other hand, can contain more ingredients than the handful within sugo di pomodoro. It can include various added veggies and is typically a chunkier sauce, since it’s not blended. Marinara sauce is where you’ll find whole pieces of tomatoes, whereas in a pomodoro sauce, the tomatoes are blended entirely. Because of this, marinara sauce tends to be a bit runnier. Both are excellent choices for topping pasta, it just depends what flavour and texture you’re looking for!

 

Ingredients in this Recipe

This recipe is incredibly convenient. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you simply don’t have the energy to whip up pasta, tomato sauce, and meatballs from scratch. Instead, we’ve turned to the Farm Boy chefs and butchers to help us whip up a hearty, comforting meal in under 30 minutes, using only five ingredients!

Sweet Italian Pork Meatballs: Made fresh by us daily using simple, natural ingredients, our Sweet Italian Pork Meatballs are delicious and convenient. Prepared with fresh ground pork, red wine vinegar, and a blend of Italian seasonings, they’re ready for you to cook and enjoy. For the most hands-off approach (which we use in this recipe), bake them in the oven until browned and at an internal temperature of 160°F. You can also sauté them and cook them directly in the sauce if you’d prefer. (Plant-based or vegetarian? You can absolutely use your favourite plant-based meatballs in this dish as well.)

Sugo di Pomodoro: A simple, classic sauce with “A Farm Boy Fresh Twist”! Using wholesome, natural ingredients and zero preservatives, our Sugo di Pomodoro is as close to Nonna’s cooking as you can get. Made fresh by us with only a few authentic ingredients like quality olive oil, fresh basil, tomatoes, and garlic, it’s smooth, velvety, and the real star of this pasta recipe.

Linguine Pasta: Made fresh for faster cooking, our Linguine Pasta is ready to enjoy in just four minutes! Crafted with a traditional Italian recipe for the most authentic flavour, it’s a favourite for this dish. (This pasta shape is our preferred variety for this recipe, but you can also try other long pastas, like our Fresh Pappardelle.)

Parmigiano Reggiano: This Italian aged cheese made from unpasteurized cow’s milk is how we like to top this pile of pasta. It has a distinct crumbly texture and a sharp, slightly nutty, and strongly savoury flavour. We like to get a wedge of it fresh from our Cheese Shop and grate it over a steaming plate for the best experience. If you’re unable to find Parmigiano Reggiano, we recommend Grana Padano, which is similar in both flavour and texture, but a little more budget-friendly.

Fresh Basil: Echoing the brightness of the basil in our sugo di pomodoro, we finish this linguine and meatballs recipe with a bit of fresh basil. Not only does it add a nice pop of colour, but its fragrance and flavour help tie this dish together.

 

How to Store Sugo di Pomodoro

If you happen to have any extra sugo di pomodoro, it makes great leftovers with other pastas, pizzas, and more. (Scroll down for more recipes using Farm Boy™ Sugo di Pomodoro.) There are two ways to properly store leftover pomodoro sauce:

Fridge: Pour your remaining sugo di pomodoro into a tightly sealed container or mason jar and place in the fridge. Stored this way, it will keep for up to one week. (Discard if you see any visible mold or notice any bad smells.)

Freezer: Pour your remaining sugo di pomodoro into a tightly sealed freezer-safe container and place in the freezer. (Do not use a glass jar as it may break.) Stored this way, it can keep for one to two months.

 

More Recipes with Sugo di Pomodoro from Farm Boy

Looking for more recipes made with Farm Boy™ Sugo di Pomodoro? Check out any of the dishes below!

Parmesan Eggplant with Sugo di Pomodoro

Stuffed Spinach and Tomato Spaghetti Squash

Zucchini Involtini Bake

Calabrese and Veggie Pizza

Savoury Sausage Stuffed Eggplants

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with Zucchini Noodles

 

More Pasta Recipes from Farm Boy

Looking for more pasta recipes? Check out any of the dishes below!

Chicken Orzo Bake

Spicy Shrimp Ravioli with Rosé Sauce

Creamy Pumpkin and Chicken Tagliatelle

Pasta with Pesto alla Trapanese

Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini

Lemony Ricotta, Spinach, and Sundried Tomato Pasta

Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Kale

Creamy Tortellini with Peas and Pancetta

Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage

Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Cannelloni

Mediterranean Pesto Pasta with Goat Cheese