Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• Meatballs
• 1 pound ground beef sirloin
• 1 pound ground pork
• ¼ cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1½ cups panko bread crumbs, divided
• 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 cup torn fresh basil
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ⅓ cup pine nuts
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Cherry Tomato Sauce
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1½ pounds cherry tomatoes, halved
• 14 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• For Serving
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• Basil vinaigrette or pesto
• Cooked pasta or polenta