Sausage Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy

By JimMac

Ingredients

• 1 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage (we used a sage variety)
• 1 pound ground beef (ground chuck recommended for flavor)
• 1/2 large sweet onion, finely chopped, divided use
• 6 medium cloves of garlic, pressed, divided use
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
• 10 grinds fresh black pepper, or to taste
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, divided use
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1-3/4 cups beef stock
• 1-3/4 cups chicken stock

Details

Servings 8

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation:
In a large bowl, combine sausage, ground beef, half of the chopped sweet onions, half of the pressed garlic, parsley, oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, and 1/4 cup of the heavy cream. Fold together with a light touch using hands. Do not over-knead. Form into meatballs the size of a golf ball.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat and coat the bottom of the pan with the olive oil. Brown the meatballs in batches. Remove browned meatballs to a large bowl.

Melt butter in the pan drippings and add remaining sweet onions and garlic, plus the portobello mushroom slices. Toss vegetables to coat with oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Saute about 5 minutes, until mushrooms release their water. Sprinkle with flour and cook another 2 minutes. Add red wine and cook, stirring for another 2 minutes. Add beef and chicken stock, stirring constantly until flour is incorporated. Return meatballs to the pot and simmer on very low heat for another 30 minutes. Gravy should thicken.

Add remaining 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the meatballs and gravy. Stir, bring back to a simmer, then turn off the heat.

Serve over cooked white rice, pasta noodles, or couscous.