roasted vegetable and meatball pappardelle (a Jess post)

It was the world's most perfect spring day today and I think I made the world's most perfect spring dinner. Earlier today we stopped at Rocky Plains Meats to stock up. I did get the grass fed beef for this recipe there, but they also started selling local pasta so we got some wonderful Pappardelle's pappardelle too. Bonus!

I originally found this recipe in Sunset Magazine (which I am currently obsessed with). The only changes I made were to allow for the specific ingredients I had on hand and personal tastes. So here it is:

Ingredients:

for the meatballs-
1 lb. grass fed ground beef
1 T Dijon mustard
1/2 c finely chopped flat leaf parsley (I DID actually break down & use fresh this time!)
3/4 tsp each salt & pepper
1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 T bread crumbs
1 large egg

for the pasta & vegetables-
1/2 red onion, cut into 1/2 inch thick wedges
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 pound fingerling potatoes, quartered
3 T olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
8 oz dried pappardelle pasta
1/2 c frozen peas
1/2 c dry white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 c roughly chopped flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 425. Combine all meatball ingredients. Scoop into small portions and roll into approximately 1 1/2 inch balls. Chill on a baking sheet until ready to use. In a large bowl, toss onions, potatoes, garlic, salt & pepper with oil until mixed and coated. Arrange potato mixture around meatballs.

Bake until potatoes are tender and meatballs are cooked, approximately 30 minutes. While the potatoes & meatballs are baking, cook pasta according to package directions. Add peas during last two minutes of cooking. Drain, reserving some pasta water and return pasta and peas to pot. Stir wine into cooked meatballs & vegetables.

Pour mixture into pasta. Add remaining lemon zest & parsley. Stir to combine, adding pasta water if necessary. Serve & enjoy the warmer, longer days!

Everyone LOVED this. Including Drew despite of the vegetables! And Griffin loved it so much he kept begging for extras from my plate! I really loved the light, fresh flavors. This is a new warm weather favorite!