When I was a kid, the only time we ever had meatballs was withspaghettior inalbondigas soup.
My eyes practically fell out of their sockets when the meatballs arrived.
They were almost the size of baseballs.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
But they were fabulous, and it just meant I had more food to share with my friends.
Actually, you could make them any size you wanted.
How to Make Italian Meatballs
To make meatballs, start with bread.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Mix only until everything is barely combined; over-mix and your meatballs will be tough.
Form the meatballs with your hands and roll them in flour.
Brown them in a skillet, then finish cooking them in tomato sauce.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
How Long to Cook Meatballs?
Once browned, these large-sized meatballs will need about 15 to 20 minutes to cook in the sauce.
Smaller meatballs will take less time.
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When done, the meatballs should be cooked all the way through the center.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
The meatballs can also be frozen, either cooked or uncooked:
Love Meatballs?
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Italian Meatballs
We’ve used equal amounts of ground beef and ground pork.
You could also use a third each of ground beef, pork, and veal.
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and parsley.
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Stir to coat with the oil, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pan.
Cook until the vegetables are soft and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the cover, add the garlic, and increase the heat to medium-high.
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Add the basil and tomato paste.
Season with salt and pepper.
Puree in a blender, or push through a food mill if you’d like a smooth consistency.
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Return to the pan and adjust the seasonings.
To make the meatballs, heat the milk in a small pot until steamy.
Mash it until you get something that resembles a paste.
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Turn it out onto a plate to let it cool.
Mix it well with your hands until it barely combines.
Don’t overwork the mixture or it will become tough.
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Wet your hands and form the meatballs.
Set each one on a baking sheet as you work.
You might need to rinse your hands a few times as you make the meatballs.
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When all the meatballs are formed, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Brown the meatballs on at least 2 sides.
Don’t worry about the center getting cooked through, as you will finish these in the sauce.
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Cover the pot and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with the sauce and pasta or crusty bread.
Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley for garnish if you want.
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
