- 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in purée
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (from 5 to 6 slices firm white sandwich bread)
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano (about 5 ounces)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 pounds ground turkey (not breast meat)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 12 hot dog or long potato buns or hoagie rolls
- Special equipment: An instant-read thermometer
- Purée tomatoes with their purée in a blender.
- Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onion until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add tomato purée, sugar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Stir together bread crumbs and milk in a large bowl and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Stir in eggs, cheese, garlic, parsley, oregano, and salt, then add turkey and blend with your hands until just combined well (do not overmix).
- Form 1 1/2-tablespoon portions into meatballs and arrange on 2 well-oiled large, heavy, rimmed baking sheets.
- Stir together butter, oil, garlic, salt, cheese, parsley, and pepper in a bowl. Spread about 2 rounded teaspoons garlic butter onto both split sides of each bun. Arrange buns, buttered sides up, on a large baking sheet.
- Preheat broiler.
- Broil meatballs 3 to 4 inches from heat, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through (165°F on instant-read thermometer), 5 to 8 minutes.
- Broil buns, buttered sides only, until golden, 30 seconds to 1 minute, watching closely (buns brown fast).
- Spoon some sauce on each bun, then top with 4 meatballs (depending on size of buns), and drizzle with more sauce.