Description
Savory classic Italian meatballs showcase generations of culinary tradition from southern Italy. Home cooks can craft these tender, flavorful spheres with simple ingredients and generations of generational wisdom. Family tables welcome you to enjoy authentic comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
- 0.5 pound (225 g) ground pork
- 0.5 cups (50 g) breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned or plain)
- 0.25 cups (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsps milk
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps olive oil (if pan-frying)
- 3 cups (720 ml) marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Thoroughly blend ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, eggs, milk, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Gently incorporate ingredients with fingertips, maintaining a light and tender texture without overmixing.
- Shaping and Forming: Craft consistent meatballs approximately 1.5 inches in diameter using hands or a measuring tool. Arrange evenly on a clean surface, ensuring uniform size for balanced cooking.
- Browning Stage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully introduce meatballs, rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown crust on all sides, approximately 6-8 minutes. Develop a rich, caramelized exterior while preserving internal moisture.
- Sauce Integration: Simultaneously simmer marinara sauce in a separate pan over medium flame. Gently immerse browned meatballs into the bubbling sauce, allowing them to absorb and meld flavors for 10-12 minutes. This process enhances depth and richness of the dish.
- Serving Presentation: Plate meatballs over al dente pasta, within crusty submarine rolls, or alongside rustic bread. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley to elevate the culinary experience with a touch of elegance.
Notes
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Handle meat mixture with light touch to prevent dense, tough meatballs – overmixing causes rubbery texture.
- Meat Temperature Control: Allow ground meats to rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before mixing, ensuring more uniform blending and consistent cooking.
- Uniform Size Matters: Use ice cream scoop or consistent hand-rolling method to create identical meatball sizes, guaranteeing even cooking and professional presentation.
- Versatile Dietary Adaptation: Substitute ground meats with plant-based alternatives like Beyond Meat or use ground turkey for leaner protein options, maintaining similar seasoning profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg