Meatball Sliders

Tomato Sauce:

1. Puree the Tomatoes:
   • In a blender, puree canned tomatoes with their juice until smooth. Transfer the tomato puree to a bowl.
2. Cook the Sauce:
   • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until golden brown, about 6 minutes.
   • Add minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until fragrant.
   • Stir in the pureed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 bay leaf, and 1 ½ teaspoons salt.
   • Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 40-50 minutes.
   • Once thickened, discard the bay leaf.

Meatballs:

1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture:
   • In a large bowl, mix ½ cup breadcrumbs and ½ cup milk. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk.
   • Add 1 lb ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork), 2 minced garlic cloves, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried marjoram, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
   • Gently mix everything together until just combined (avoid overmixing).
2. Shape the Meatballs:
   • Using a ¼-cup measuring spoon, scoop the meat mixture and form into meatballs. You should have about 12-14 meatballs.
3. Fry the Meatballs:
   • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 4-6 minutes per batch.
   • Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Simmer Meatballs in Sauce:

1. Simmer the Meatballs:
   • Add the fried meatballs to the simmering tomato sauce. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes.

Assemble the Sliders:

1. Prepare the Slider Buns:
   • Lightly toast your slider buns in the oven or on a skillet for a crisp texture.
2. Build the Sliders:
   • Place a meatball on the bottom half of each slider bun.
   • Spoon 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce over each meatball.
   • Add a small handful of baby greens (like arugula or spinach) for freshness.
   • Place the top half of the bun on the slider and secure with a wooden pick.

Serve and Enjoy
These savory meatball sliders are perfect for a party or family meal. Serve them with extra tomato sauce on the side for dipping!