Meatball Sub Sandwich

These meatballs are a family recipe near and dear to us, make for a hearty and delicious sandwich for the cold weather! They can be extra special with homemade cheese and bread, or a quick weeknight meal if using store-bought ingredients. I hope you all are staying warm as the season changes ❤️ Meatball Sub Sandwiches Yield: 16-18 Meatballs, about 4 sandwiches   Ingredients For the Meatballs: 1 1/2 lbs ground beef 1 small onion or ½ medium onion, coarsely grated and lightly squeezed 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 egg 3/4 cup stale breadcrumbs 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp salt Black pepper and paprika to taste 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped Oregano (optional)   For the Sauce: 4 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 2 garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce 1 1/4 cups water Salt and black pepper 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves   For the Sandwich: Medium French baguettes Sliced fresh mozzarella Grated Parmesan Fresh basil leaves   Instructions: Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, add ground beef, onion, garlic, egg, stale breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, tomato paste, salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano, and mix everything until well combined. Using a spoon or 1 1/2 tbsp ice cream scoop, divide the ground beef and roll each into a ball. Place the balls on baking sheets and repeat the process with all the beef.   Heat a nonstick pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, place the meatballs in the pot and sear each side, cooking for 3-4 minutes total. The meatballs will not be fully cooked at this point. Remove the meatballs from the pot and place on a plate. Once complete, in the same pot add 2 tbsp olive oil and the onions. Sauté the onion over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until lightly golden brown. Add garlic and tomato sauce and cook for 1-2 min. Add water, salt, pepper, and basil, and bring to a boil. Place the meatballs back into the sauce pot and, stirring occasionally and cook over medium-low heat for 20-30 min until the sauce texture reaches your desired consistency.   Assemble the Meatball Subs: Slice each baguette horizontally and lightly scoop out the inside of the loaves. Line one side of each loaf with fresh mozzarella slices. Broil the bread in the oven on low for 30 to 40 seconds to melt the cheese. Remove from the oven and add tomato sauce over the cheese. Top with cooked meatballs, grated parmesan, and fresh basil. Serve immediately.   Bon appetit!