Very low sodium Italian sauce and meatballs

[Nancy]

This was the biggest challenge, to find a way to make Italian sauce that tasted good. The canned no salt tomatoes are dreadful, too acidic and produce a sauce that is disgusting.

This recipe requires the use of Pomi brand No Salt Strained Tomatoes, made by Parmalat. It comes in a box, like Parmalat milk. Not every market stocks them. They do not have the extra added acid that the canned tomatoes have and make a sauce that has a beautiful texture, and delicious flavor.


Tomato Sauce and Meatballs, No Salt

1 Box of Pomi No Salt, Strained Tomatoes
Garlic Salt, I used quite a bit, a Tablespoon
1 bay leaf
Basil to taste
Oregano to taste
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup olive oil

Simmer on medium low until it changes color (the oil on top gets a little dark), scraping down sides often and stirring it into the sauce. That part is important, it adds to the flavor because it brings the concentrated tomatoes from the sides back down into the pot.

It will take at least an hour to get to the change color stage. Don't let it burn. Slow cooking. A lot of stirring and scraping down the sides.

Add 1/8 cup dark brown sugar (not the molasses kind)
½ teas. Cayenne (8 shakes), if you like it hot.

Meatballs

1 lb. Good quality ground chuck
Garlic to taste
Oregano to taste
Basil to taste
1 egg
Matzo Meal (No salt) about ½ cup. The Matzo Meal made the meatballs very light and nice.

Form into walnut sized balls.

Fry in oil until browned on all sides.

Add to sauce to finish cooking.

I allow Joe 1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese. It's his "pittance" he says.

And now he can have some no salt "pickled hot peppers" with his meal, see below recipe.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Thanks Nancy

Thanks Nancy

Nancy, I want to thank you for sharing all of these recipes with the group. I know many of us (incl. yours truly) are on salt-restricted diets, and it's tough to find things that taste good. I also appreciate your truthful comments about how they taste -

 

[fyrfytr]

Thanks Nancy!

Thanks Nancy!

I am with Johnny, and also want to thank you for all the receipts.
You just amaze me with everything you do. Joe is one lucky guy!
Take Care

Dave
__________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[hensylee]

Here's one that is really strange and if anyone tries it, please tell us how it tastes. My cousin is a volunteer involved in helping provide large amounts of food (like for his local high school football team). He said they have made a 'new' potato salad. You make it just like you make your regular potato salad except no potatoes - you substiture cooked (not soft, tho) cauliflower! He tells me it goes over really well with the crowds.