Polpette In Bianco Food

POLPETTE IN BIANCO

Steps:

• At first put the bread in a bowl with the milk, for soften it. Squeeze it, add to mince and mix.
• Add the eggs, salt, parmesan, garlic. If the mixture is too soft add bread crumbs, if it is too hard add milk. The mixture must be handy. Handle it and form small balls (if they are little, they cook first)and flour them.
• Heat oil in the pan and add the polpette, add the wine and after few seconds reduce heat. Add few water, cover and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes (depends of the size of balls). Add water if too dry.
• Serve it with chopped parsley.

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.

RIGATONI IN BIANCO

Steps:

• Heat onions, garlic, fennel, half the parsley, salt, and olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat.
• Cook, stirring often, about 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender and beginning to brown.
• Increase heat until the vegetables are sizzling and add in the mushrooms; cook for 3 minutes over medium-high heat.
• Add in the beef and cook, stirring often, until the beef loses any pink color and is completely cooked.
• Add in the stock; cover and bring to a boil; decrease heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Taste and add more salt if necessary; set aside over low heat while you cook the pasta.
• Bring a big pot of water to a boil; generously salt water and drop in the rigatoni.
• Cook, stirring often, until al dente.
• Drain pasta and transfer to the saute pan with the sauce.
• If the sauce seems too soupy, reduce it by increasing the heat and cooking briskly for 1-2 minutes; the pasta should be generously bathed in sauce.
• Finely chop the mint and add to the pasta with the remaining parsley.
• Toss and serve right away; pass a bowl of ricotta at the table to dollop on each portion.