Meatballs A La Ritz Food

THE BEST MEATBALLS YOU'LL EVER HAVE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, croutons, sweet onion, egg, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, red pepper flakes, and Cajun seasoning. Form the mixture by hand into meatballs.
• Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the meatballs in the skillet, and cook, turning constantly, 20 minutes, or to desired doneness.

MEATBALLS & PASTA

Steps:

• Wrap the crackers in a tea towel and smash up until fine, breaking up any big bits with your hands, then tip into a large bowl.
• Pick and finely chop the rosemary, then add to the bowl with the mustard, minced meat and oregano.
• Crack the egg into the bowl, then add a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
• With clean hands, scrunch and mix everything up well. Divide into 4 large and balls, then with wet hands divide each ball into 6 and roll into little meatballs - you should end up with 24.
• Place the meatballs onto a plate, drizzle with oil and jiggle about to coat, then cover and place in the fridge until needed - this will help to firm them up.
• Pick the basil leaves, keeping any smaller ones to one side for later. Peel and finely chop the onion and the garlic, and trim and finely slice or crumble the chilli.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the onion and cook for 7 minutes, or until softened and lightly golden.
• Add the garlic and chilli, and as soon as they start to get some colour add the large basil leaves.
• Tip in the the tomatoes, breaking them up with the back of a spoon, then add the balsamic vinegar, and season to taste. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer until needed, stirring regularly.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in another large frying pan over a medium heat, add the meatballs and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through, turning regularly To check if they're cooked, cut one opening - there should be no sign of pink.
• Once cooked, add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a mugful of cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan.
• Spoon half the tomato sauce over the pasta and toss together, adding a little splash of reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed
• Transfer to a large platter or divide between bowls, serving the remaining sauce and meatballs on top. Add a fine grating of Parmesan and scatter over the reserved basil, then tuck in.

MEATBALLS A LA PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Dice the smoked mozzarella into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside. In a food processor, pulse the shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until blended. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the beef and pork and, using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until combined. Form into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs. Insert 1 cube smoked mozzarella into the center of each meatball and form the meat around it, enclosing the cheese. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour equal parts olive oil and vegetable oil to fill the pan halfway. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. In batches, fry the meatballs until dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Place the fried meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet. Put in the oven and bake until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then serve immediately with marinara sauce, if desired.
• Photograph by Joseph DeLeo

CLASSIC MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix all ingredients. Shape mixture into 24 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs. Place 1 inch apart in pan.
• Bake uncovered 18 to 22 minutes or until temperature reaches 160°F and no longer pink in center.

MEATBALLS A LA RITZ

Steps:

• Blend together the ingredients for the meatballs and make little balls with your hands, they should be around 2 to 3 inches big.
• Stir fry the balls on a hot pan without oil or bake them in the oven at 300°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Blend together the ingredients for the sauce in a suitable pot and heat up.
• Thicken with sauce thickener if you like.
• Serve your meatballs folded into the sauce togehter with the condiments mentioned above.

RITZ CHEESY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place meatballs in single layer on microwaveable plate. Microwave on HIGH 45 sec. to 1 min. or until heated through. Cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cut each cheese slice into 8 pieces; place on crackers. Top each with 1/4 tsp. spaghetti sauce.
• Cut meatballs in half; place, cut sides down, on crackers. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce and parsley.

BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a baking sheet with rimmed edges with nonstick spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, milk, egg, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and 1/4 cup of the beef broth. Mix until well combined.
• Add the meat to the mixture and just combine. Do not over mix, but be sure seasonings are well dispersed.
• Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture, using a tablespoon measuring spoon or medium cookie scoop, and then gently shape into 1-inch meatballs. Place the meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Pour the remaining 3/4 cup beef broth around meatballs, it is okay if the broth does not fully cover the pan.
• Bake the meatballs for 22-25 minutes, or until the broth is evaporated and the meatballs are browned.

FAMILY PLEASING MEATBALLS

Steps:

• BASE RECIPE:
• PREHEAT oven to 375ºF. Combine meat, cracker crumbs, egg white and pepper. Shape into 12 meatballs, each about 2-1/4 inches in diameter. Place in 15x10x1-inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 20 min. or until meatballs are cooked through.
• Pour pasta sauce into microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 2 to 3 min. or until heated through, stirring after 1-1/2 min; set aside.
• ADULT VARIATION:
• ADD 6 of the meatballs to the 1/2 cup pasta sauce in bowl; toss to coat. Spoon 3 meatballs and half of the sauce onto bottom half of each roll; sprinkle each with 2 Tbsp. cheese. Serve with carrots and celery. Makes 2 adult servings, one sandwich each.
• KID VARIATION:
• DRAIN hot spaghetti. Divide between two serving plates; top each with 3 of the meatballs, 1/2 cup of the sauce and 2 Tbsp. of the cheese. Makes 2 kid servings.