Ricotta And Spinach Marinara Meatballs Food

RICOTTA AND SPINACH MARINARA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, parmesan, spinach, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, oregan, and basil until well combined.
• Pour the marinara sauce into a baking dish.
• Scoop the ricotta mixture into the baking dish in heaping tablespoons.
• Nestle the meatballs into the sauce and around the mounds of ricotta.
• Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the top.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with parsley and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce: Coat a large saucepot with olive oil and add the pancetta. Bring the pot to a medium-high heat and cook the pancetta for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onions, season generously with salt and stir to coat with olive oil. Cook the onions for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently. The onions should become very soft and aromatic but have no color. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Pulse to combine the tomatoes in a food processor. Add the tomatoes to the pot and rinse out 1 of the empty tomato cans with water and add that water to the pot (about 2 to 3 cups). Season generously with salt and TASTE IT!!!! Tomatoes take a lot of salt. Season in baby steps and taste every step of the way. Cook the sauce for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and tasting frequently.
• Use the sauce right away on pasta or for any other tomato sauce need. This sauce can also be cooled and stored in the refrigerator for a few days and freezes really well.
• For the meatballs: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and bring to a medium-high heat. Season the onions generously with salt and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. The onions should be very soft and aromatic but have no color. Add the garlic and the crushed red pepper and saute for another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl combine the meats, eggs, Parmigiano, parsley and breadcrumbs. It works well to squish the mixture with your hands. Add the onion mixture and season generously with salt and squish some more. Add 1/2 cup water and do 1 final really good squish. The mixture should be quite wet. Test the seasoning of the mix by making a mini hamburger size patty and cooking it. The mixture should taste really good! If it doesn't it is probably missing salt. Add more. Add more anyway.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Shape the meat into desired size. Some people like 'em big and some people like 'em small. I prefer meatballs slightly larger than a golf ball. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake them for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked all the way through. If using right away, add them to your big pot of marinara sauce. If not using right away, they can be frozen for later use. Serve with pasta and sauce or just eat them straight out of the pot! Top with fresh ricotta cheese, garnish with chopped pickles and chives and serve with grilled garlic bread. YUM!

SPINACH AND RICOTTA DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Bring a large, wide pot of salted water to a simmer. Put the spinach in a large bowl and separate it with your hands. Add the ricotta, 3/4 cup parmesan, the flour, eggs, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the nutmeg. Mix with a fork to form a slightly sticky dough.
• Spread some flour on a plate. Scoop out heaping tablespoonfuls of the spinach-ricotta mixture and roll into about 24 loose balls using floured hands. Gently roll the balls in the flour.
• Bring the marinara sauce to a simmer in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the butter.
• Meanwhile, gently lower the dumplings into the simmering water and cook until they rise to the surface and are firm, about 5 minutes. Remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon, letting the water drain off, and add to the sauce. Gently toss to coat, then transfer to plates and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan. Serve with bread.

RICOTTA AND CINNAMON MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the shallots, garlic, egg, cinnamon and nutmeg. With a wooden spoon, stir in the ground beef, orzo, ricotta and basil. Add the salt, pepper and 1/4 cup water and mix well.
• Bring the marinara to a simmer in a shallow 12-inch skillet. Form the meat mixture into balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each). Drop the meatballs into the simmering sauce, cover the skillet and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve on small toothpicks or skewers.

SAVORY TURKEY-RICOTTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Combine ground turkey breast with the other ingredients in a bowl and then shape mixture into about 18 meatballs.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Coat pan with cooking spray.
• Add meatballs, and brown on all sides.
• Remove from skillet; transfer to a broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and bake for 15 minutes or until done.
• To freeze: Follow cooking directions, then allow meatballs to cool to room temperature.
• Place on a baking sheet, making sure they don't touch one another, and place in the freezer for an hour.
• Next, transfer hardened meatballs to an airtight container, and store in the freezer.
• Thaw meatballs in the refrigerator, then bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or untinl heated.

LINGUINE WITH MARINARA SAUCE AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Mix first nine ingredients by hand using a light touch.
• Shape into 1 1/2" meatballs.
• Brown slowly in a small amount of olive oil in a Dutch oven.
• Turn carefully to brown all sides.
• Meanwhile make sauce.
• Mix tomato paste, tomato sauce and water.
• When last side of meatballs are nearly brown, add tomato sauce mix to the pan.
• Add garlic, carrot, salt, pepper and wine.
• Stir, being careful not to break up meatballs, cover and simmer for at least an hour.
• Add fresh chopped basil and oregano to taste during the last ten minutes.
• Serve over linguini with Parmesan.

SPINACH, RICOTTA AND CHICKPEA 'MEATLESS' BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200° C.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Place all ingredients except for eggs, breadcrumbs, and garlic granules in a large bowl, and combine. Taste and adjust season as needed.
• Mix in eggs and approximately 1/2 the breadcrumbs. If the mixture seems too dry, add a glug more oil. If it seems too wet, add more crumbs, ensuring you save enough to coat balls.
• On a plate, combine remaining breadcrumbs and garlic granules
• Using a large soup/tablespoon, scoop out equal portions of batter and roll into balls.
• Roll balls in crumb mixture to coat.
• Place balls on tray and bake for 45 minutes, flipping about half-way through. Balls should be golden brown all over. Depending on how moist the mixture is they may flatten a little, but will still taste great!
• Serve with your favourite pasta, sauce and extra parmesan.