- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes in juice, drained, reserving juice, and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (from an Italian or French loaf)
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 pound meatloaf mix (1/3 pound each of ground pork, ground chuck, and ground veal)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ounce finely grated Pecorino Romano (1/2 cup)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 pound ricotta (preferably fresh)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 ounce finely grated Pecorino Romano (1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 pound dried egg fettuccine
- 1/2 pound chilled fresh mozzarella, coarsely grated
- Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and oregano and sauté, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes with reserved juice, tomato paste, bay leaf, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
- Stir together bread crumbs and milk in a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes. Add meat, garlic, cheese, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper and blend with your hands until just combined well (do not overmix). Form level 1/2-teaspoon portions into meatballs (you should have about 135).
- Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then fry meatballs in 5 batches (do not crowd), turning occasionally, until browned well and cooked through, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer as browned to paper towels using a slotted spoon.
- Stir together all filling ingredients until combined well.
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
- Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until al dente. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water and drain again.
- Spread 2 cups sauce in a 13- by 9-inch or other 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish and arrange one third of fettuccine over sauce, then top with all of meatballs. Make another layer each of 2 cups sauce and one third of fettuccine, then spread with all of filling. Top with remaining fettuccine, then remaining sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella.
- Bake, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is golden, about 20 minutes more. Transfer to a rack and cool, about 20 minutes.