Sunday Gravy, also known as Sunday Sauce, is a heartwarming Italian-American tradition that brings families together around a hearty, slow-cooked meal. The dish involves simmering meats like short ribs, sausages, and meatballs in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce. The sauce develops depth as it cooks, with each meat infusing its own essence into the gravy. This dish is often served with pasta, crusty bread, and a side of parmesan for a comforting family meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 lb ground pork

• 2 eggs

• ¼ cup milk

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1½ tbsp Italian seasoning

• 1½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

• ⅔ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs

For the Sunday Gravy:

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 lbs short ribs

• 2 lbs Italian sausage (spicy or sweet)

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced

• 2 carrots, grated

• 6 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 cup red wine

• 3 (28oz) cans whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand

• 6 oz tomato paste

• 3 cups water

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed

• 1 sprig rosemary

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 tbsp dried oregano

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Prepare the Meatballs: Mix the beef, pork, eggs, milk, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, parsley, and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Form into 1½-2 inch meatballs and refrigerate until ready.

2. Brown the Meats: In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the short ribs, sausages, and meatballs in batches. Set aside the browned meats.

3. Cook the Vegetables: In the same pot, sauté onions, carrots, and garlic until softened. Add red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any brown bits. Cook until the wine reduces by half.

4. Make the Gravy: Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, rosemary, bay leaves, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the short ribs and simmer over medium-low heat for 2-2.5 hours.

5. Add the Sausages: After 2 hours, add the sausages and simmer for another hour, uncovered. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water.

6. Add the Meatballs: After the sausages have simmered, add the meatballs and cook for another hour. Stir occasionally and skim off any fat.

7. Serve: Serve the Sunday Gravy over pasta and garnish with fresh basil and parmesan. Enjoy with crusty bread.

Nutrients

• Calories: 819 per serving

• Fat: 56g

• Saturated Fat: 21g

• Carbohydrates: 17g

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 7g

• Protein: 57g

The Tradition Behind Sunday Gravy

The tradition of making Sunday Gravy is a time-honored one in Italian-American households. Traditionally, Sunday was a day for families to gather after church and enjoy a big, hearty meal. The dish was often made in large quantities to feed the whole family and provide leftovers for the week. It’s said that each family has its own variation of Sunday Gravy, with recipes passed down from generation to generation, with different combinations of meats, vegetables, and herbs.

In Italian-American households, the phrase “Sunday Gravy” is more than just a meal—it’s a symbol of family, tradition, and love. It’s the centerpiece of a Sunday gathering, where everyone helps in the preparation, and the meal is enjoyed together, often with good conversation, laughter, and, of course, a glass of wine. The long cooking time allows the flavors to meld and intensify, creating a rich, satisfying dish that becomes more than just food; it’s an experience.

The Meatballs: Flavorful and Tender

The meatballs in Sunday Gravy are crucial for the dish’s success. Made from a mixture of ground beef and pork, these meatballs are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The combination of meat, breadcrumbs, garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh parsley creates a savory, well-seasoned ball of goodness. The milk added to the meat mixture ensures that the meatballs remain moist and tender during the cooking process.

Forming the meatballs into uniform sizes (about 1½-2 inches) allows them to cook evenly, and refrigerating them before adding them to the gravy helps them maintain their shape during the long simmering process. When the meatballs are added to the Sunday Gravy after the sausages, they soak up the rich, tomato-based sauce, becoming even more flavorful. Each bite of these meatballs is a perfect balance of meat and seasonings, making them the perfect complement to the other ingredients in the gravy.

The Gravy: A Savory Tomato Base

The base of Sunday Gravy is its tomato sauce, which is simmered for hours to develop a deep, rich flavor. The secret to the gravy’s depth of flavor lies in the combination of high-quality San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, and a variety of herbs and spices. The tomatoes are crushed by hand to create a chunky texture, which adds to the rustic feel of the dish. The addition of tomato paste thickens the sauce and intensifies its flavor, giving it a hearty consistency.

As the sauce simmers, the beef broth, fresh basil, rosemary, bay leaves, and dried oregano infuse the sauce with aromatic notes, while the sweetness of the carrots and the savoriness of the garlic and onions balance the acidity of the tomatoes. These vegetables are sautéed first, allowing their natural flavors to release, and then deglazed with red wine, which adds a touch of sweetness and complexity to the sauce.

The sauce simmers for hours, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, creating a hearty and flavorful gravy that is the heart of this dish. The meats, particularly the short ribs and sausages, cook in the sauce, infusing it with their flavors and contributing to the richness of the gravy.

The Meats: Short Ribs, Sausages, and More

The selection of meats in Sunday Gravy is what makes the dish so flavorful and hearty. Short ribs provide a deep, beefy flavor, while Italian sausages (spicy or sweet) add a nice balance of savory and slightly tangy flavors. As the meats cook in the sauce, their flavors meld together, creating a gravy that is rich and robust.

The short ribs are browned before being added to the sauce, allowing them to develop a caramelized crust that enhances the sauce’s flavor. The sausages are also browned before being added to the simmering gravy. The meatballs, after being browned separately, are added later to the sauce, where they simmer gently until they are perfectly tender and have absorbed the rich flavors of the gravy.

The beauty of Sunday Gravy is that as the meats cook, they become more and more tender, and they release their juices, which infuse the sauce with even more flavor. The meats are meant to be enjoyed along with the sauce, and each bite is a satisfying combination of tender, flavorful meat and rich, savory sauce.

The Frites: Golden, Crispy Fries

While pasta is the traditional accompaniment to Sunday Gravy, frites (French fries) provide a deliciously crispy and indulgent alternative. Yukon Gold potatoes are ideal for making frites, as they are waxy and hold their shape well during frying, creating fries that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

To make the frites, the potatoes are sliced into thick matchstick-like pieces and first boiled for about 15 minutes to cook them through. Then, they are fried in neutral oil until golden brown and crispy. The result is a batch of fries that are the perfect complement to the rich, savory gravy and meats. The addition of truffle powder is optional, but it adds a luxurious touch to the dish, elevating the fries to a gourmet level.

The frites are served alongside the Sunday Gravy, providing a crispy contrast to the tender meats and creamy sauce. They are also perfect for dipping into the flavorful gravy, allowing you to savor every last bit of the sauce.

Serving the Dish: A Hearty Italian Feast

Serving Sunday Gravy is a celebration of family and tradition. The rich, hearty sauce is poured over pasta or served alongside the golden, crispy frites. The meatballs, sausages, and short ribs are arranged on the plate, with the sauce drizzled over everything. Fresh basil and grated Parmesan add the finishing touches, enhancing the flavors and providing a burst of freshness.

To fully enjoy Sunday Gravy, be sure to serve it with a side of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. This dish is meant to be savored slowly, with each bite delivering the perfect combination of tender meat, flavorful sauce, and satisfying sides. Pair it with a glass of red wine, such as a Chianti or Sangiovese, to complete the Italian-American feast.

Conclusion

Sunday Gravy is more than just a meal—it’s a family tradition that brings people together and provides warmth and comfort. The combination of slow-cooked meats, a rich tomato sauce, and golden fries (or pasta) makes this dish a satisfying and indulgent experience. Whether you’re following the classic recipe or adding your own twist, Sunday Gravy is sure to be a hit at your next family gathering or special meal.

With its rich flavors and hearty textures, Sunday Gravy is the epitome of comfort food. So gather your loved ones, take your time, and enjoy this delicious, slow-cooked feast that will leave everyone feeling satisfied and connected.