Beef Ricotta Meatballs With Braised Beet Greens Food

MEATBALLS WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet cook onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil for 8 minutes or until tender. Cool.
• In a large bowl combine eggs, onion mixture, ground beef, 1 cup Grana Padano, the ricotta cheese, panko, parsley, basil, salt and pepper.
• Mix to form a uniform mass and shape the mixture into 2 inch balls.
• Test one meatball before starting the next process.
• If the ricotta is too watery, add more breadcrumbs or ground beef. If it is too dry, add more ricotta.
• Place meatballs on two parchment­ lined 15x10x1­inch baking pans.
• Brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until 165 degrees F.
• In a very large skillet bring marinara sauce to boiling.
• Add half of the meatballs to the skillet and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until a nice saucy consistency.
• Garnish with Grana Padano, if desired.

CHEF JOHN'S RICOTTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Saute onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion and turn off heat. Transfer onion mixture to a large mixing bowl.
• Stir ground beef, ricotta cheese, parsley, egg, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper with onion mixture until almost combined; stir in bread crumbs and continue to mix until thoroughly blended.
• Roll about 2 tablespoons of mixture into a 1-inch ball for each meatball. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil in same skillet used to cook onions. Place skillet over medium heat and brown meatballs on all sides in hot oil, about 5 minutes. Hold a crumpled paper towel in a tongs and use it to remove excess grease from skillet.
• Pour marinara sauce and water over meatballs in skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through and no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes.