Classic Meatballs Polpettine Food

CLASSIC MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Heat the olive oil and sliced garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is lightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of pepper and 2 teaspoons oregano. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: Combine the beef, parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, milk, eggs, grated garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, a few grinds of pepper and the remaining 1 teaspoon oregano in a large bowl. Mix well with your hands. Form into thirty 1 1/2-inch meatballs and divide between 2 baking sheets. Bake until firm and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the meatballs with a spatula and drain briefly on paper towels, then transfer to the sauce. Simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer the meatballs and sauce to a slow cooker and keep on warm.

POLPETTINE - ITALIAN HOUSEWIFE'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Chop garlic, celery leaves and potato.
• In a mixing bowl combine ground meat, bread crumbs, grated lemon peel, salt, chopped garlic, sage and celery leaves, potato, two tablespoons olive oil and the egg.
• Knead like bread dough and slowly add some milk to make a soft dough.
• The meat dough should be smooth and homogenous.
• Shape into 2 inch meatballs, flatten to about 1 1/2 inch thickness and fry in olive oil until golden brown.
• My aunt served them with a salad of cooked green beans and potatoes, seasoned with nothing but salt, pepper and savory and drizzled with olive oil.

POLPETTE - ITALIAN MEATBALLS IN RICH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl add ground beef and crumble it with a wooden spoon or simply using your fingers.
• Add finely chopped shallot. I like to use a microplane grater as it extracts all the juices to go with the meat and minces the shallot really well.
• Add ground nutmeg, breadcrumbs, egg(s) and Parmesan cheese.
• Mix everything well with your hands.
• Slowly pour in the milk. Mix again until smooth and even texture.
• Add salt and pepper.
• If the mixture feels too dry add some more milk, if way too soft, almost liquid-y - add more breadcrumbs.
• An ideal meatball mix should be moist, easy to roll in your hands and hold the shape.
• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Pinch of about an ounce of meat and roll it between the palms of your hands giving it a smooth round shape with no cracks.
• With an ounce of meat you'll have medium size meatballs, think walnut size.
• Of course you can make your meatballs smaller or bigger, depending your preference.
• Place rolled meatballs on a baking sheet (see notes!).Line with parchment paper to avoid extra cleaning.Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
• In a large skillet pan add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Add baked meatballs, tomato pure (clean the can/bottle with about a quarter cup water and add to the sauce).
• Add garlic cloves crushed with a flat knife, handful of fresh basil leaves and generous drizzle of dried oregano.
• Bring to simmer and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes.

POLPETTINI

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put the pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt, to taste, and saute until they are translucent and aromatic but have no color, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the meats, rosemary, Parmesan, water, bread crumbs, and eggs. Season generously with salt and add the cooked onions and garlic. Combine until well mixed. (Squish with your hands, it's fun!)
• Make a small patty of the meat mixture. Cook it and eat it. This is a tester patty to check and see if the seasoning is correct (it will probably need salt). Adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Roll the meat mixture into 3/4-inch meatballs. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put over high heat. Working in batches, cook the polpettini until they are brown on all sides. Add half a cup of chicken stock and cook until the stock has reduced by half. Remove to serving platters. Repeat this process until all the polpettini are cooked and serve immediately. Buonissimo!

QUICK, CLASSIC MEATBALLS (POLPETTE)

Steps:

• Enjoy!

CLASSIC COCKTAIL MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and eggs until blended. Shape into 50 (1-1/2-inch) meatballs; place in 2 foil-lined 15x10x1-inch pans sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 16 min. or until done (160 degrees F). Meanwhile, bring jelly and chili sauce to boil in large saucepan on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add meatballs to sauce; stir to evenly coat.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS/POLPETTE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together
• Form about the size of golf balls
• Make or pour tomato sauce into a deep pot Drop meat balls in sauce.
• Simmer for at least 2 hours.

POLPETTE ALLA NAPOLETANA (NEAPOLITAN MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, soak the bread cubes in water to cover for a minute or two.
• Drain the bread cubes and squeeze with your fingers to press out the excess moisture (make sure you do this well).
• In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, beef, eggs, garlic, pecorino, parsley, toasted pine nuts, salt and pepper, and mix with your hands to incorporate.
• With wet hands, form the mixture into 12-15 meatballs, each smaller than a tennis ball, but larer than a golf ball.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until almost smoking.
• Add the meatballs and, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan, cook until deep golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce and reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Cook all the meatballs for 30 minutes.
• Set aside and allow to cool; save the sauce for another use.