 | |
| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New York City |
| Associated cuisine | Italian-American |
| Main ingredients | Spaghetti, tomato sauce, meatballs |
 Media: Spaghetti and meatballs | |
Spaghetti and meatballs is an Italian-American pasta dish consisting of spaghetti, tomato sauce, and meatballs.[1]
Originally inspired by similar dishes from southern Italy, the modern version of spaghetti and meatballs was developed by Italian immigrants in the United States. However, combinations of pasta with meat date back at least to the Middle Ages,[2] and pasta (including long pasta) dishes with tomato sauce and different types of meatballs are documented in certain Italian regions and in modern Italian cookbooks as maccheroni alle polpette[3] (translated as 'spaghetti and meatballs'[4]) and maccheroni alla chitarra con polpette, though these dishes are often found only in particular regions and towns.[5]
Spaghetti and meatballs was popular among Italian immigrantsinNew York City, who had access to a more plentiful meat supply than in Italy.[6]
Italian writers and chefs often mock the dish as pseudo-Italian or non-Italian,[11] because in Italy meatballs are smaller and are only served with egg-based, baked pasta.[12] However, various types of pasta with meat are part of the culinary tradition of Abruzzo, Apulia, Sicily, and other parts of southern Italy. A recipe for rigatoni and meatballs can be found in Il cucchiaio d'argento (The Silver Spoon), a comprehensive Italian cookbook.
In Abruzzo, chitarra alla teramana is a standard first course made with spaghetti alla chitarra, small meatballs (polpettineorpallottine), and a meat or vegetable ragù.[13]
Other dishes that have similarities to spaghetti and meatballs include pasta seduta (lit. 'seated pasta') and maccaroni azzese in Apulia.[14][15][16]
Some baked pasta dishes from Apulia combine pasta and meat where meatballs, mortadella, or salami are baked with rigatoni, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, then covered with a pastry top.[17]
Other pasta recipes include slices of meat rolled up with cheese, cured meats, and herbs (involtini in Italian), and braciole that are cooked within sauce but pulled out to be served as a second course.
