In the realm of culinary artistry, few dishes evoke the vibrant flavors and rustic charm of Italy quite like the iconic Italian meat bowls. These tantalizing creations showcase the perfect harmony between succulent meatballs, savory sauces, and an array of tantalizing ingredients. Join us on a culinary journey as we unravel the secrets behind crafting the ultimate Italian meat bowls, promising a taste of Italy's rich culinary heritage in every bite.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHEF JOHN'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Homemade meatballs are a very easy to make, and since we skip the very messy step of pan-frying these before they hit the sauce, it becomes downright simple. Here I use a standard half-beef/half-pork mixture. You can substitute water or beef broth for the milk, if preferred.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 2h15m
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onions in hot oil until translucent, about 20 minutes.
- Mix beef and pork together in a large bowl. Stir onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and Parmesan cheese into meat mixture with a rubber spatula until combined. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour.
- Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Using wet hands, form meat mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Arrange onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until browned and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.9 calories, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Cholesterol 32.3 mg, Fat 5.5 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 192.1 mg, Sugar 0.5 g
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Meatball recipes are often challenged by chefs who claim, "Mine are the best!" Even though my meatballs ARE the best, I will make no such claim. Try them for yourself! This meatball recipe was given to me by my father who got it from a little old lady from Italy that he knew. It's amazing that she gave up her recipe to him, but I sure am glad she did!
Provided by InMemoryofBrats
Categories Meat
Time 3h20m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl by hand.
- Use your bare hands for best results.
- Roll meatballs to about the size of a golf ball. (wet your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to them while rolling the meat balls).
- Drop raw meatballs into large (I use a stock pot) pot of sauce.
- (I have an incredible sauce recipe {#92096} I use for my meatballs).
- Simmer for about 3 hours.
ROASTED ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 10 servings (30 to 32 meatballs)
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Place the sirloin, pork, and veal in a large mixing bowl and lightly break up the meats with a fork and your fingertips. Add the bread crumbs, Pecorino, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add the eggs, wine, and 3/4 cup water and combine lightly but thoroughly.
- Measure out 2-ounce portions of the mixture (I use a rounded 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop) and roll each lightly into a ball. Place one inch apart on the prepared sheet pans. Brush the meatballs with the olive oil.
- Bake the meatballs for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned. Pour the marinara into a large pot and bring to a simmer. Carefully add the meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes, until heated through.
- To serve with polenta, spoon a puddle of creamy Parmesan polenta on one side of each dinner plate. Spoon 1 or 2 meatballs plus a puddle of tomato sauce on the other side, allowing them to combine in the center of the plate. To serve with spaghetti, distribute among shallow pasta bowls. Spoon the meatballs and sauce onto the pasta. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan and serve hot.
- Place the chicken stock in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and cook over medium-high heat until the stock comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and very slowly whisk in the cornmeal, whisking constantly to make sure there are no lumps. Switch to a wooden spoon, add the salt and pepper, and simmer, stirring almost constantly, for 10 minutes, until thick. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly while you're stirring. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, creme fraiche, and butter. Taste for seasonings and serve hot with extra Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.
ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Grandma "Sini" would make these meatballs for our traditional spaghetti dinner every Sunday. They freeze well, so bake an extra batch when time allows. Then combine with your favorite homemade or purchased sauce and serve over pasta.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 6-8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Soak bread in milk for 10 minutes; drain and squeeze bread. In a blender in food processor, combine the bread, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, oil, salt, pepper and allspice; cover and process until smooth., In a large bowl, combine the beef and sausage. Add bread mixture; mix well. Shape into 2-in. balls. Place on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. , Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are no longer pink; drain. In a large saucepan, heat marinara sauce; add the meatballs and heat through. , Serve over pasta.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 434 calories, Fat 25g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 137mg cholesterol, Sodium 1161mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 31g protein.
GREAT-GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS
My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor's so good, you won't miss the extra calories. -Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, seasonings and onion mixture. Add turkey and beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls., Place meatballs on a rack coated with cooking spray in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, 18-22 minutes. If desired, serve with pasta and pasta sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 125mg cholesterol, Sodium 569mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS
This recipe is from my Italian grandmother. The one change she made to get with the times was to use Ragu sauce instead of homemade, and she declared that it still tasted just as good. It's never failed to impress the people I make it for. My husband says these meatballs have forever ruined him to other people's, or even restaurant meatballs. The real secret is in the time you take to slowly cook the meatballs in the sauce. Don't skimp and just toss the sauce on and eat it. It will still taste good, but not anything like it should be. The raisins are meant to absorb the acidity and impart a little sweetness to the sauce. This recipe can easily be multiplied to feed more people.
Provided by Buckdawna
Categories Meat
Time 4h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix ground beef, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, basil, parmesan cheese, and parsley until combined. Do not overwork meatball mixture.
- Make golfball size meatballs with meatball mixture.
- Brown meatballs in a frying pan over medium heat, or bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes, until cooked through.
- Combine browned meatballs in a pot with sauce and raisins.
- Cook covered, simmering gently over low heat, for at least 3 hours and up to 5 hours, stirring gently occasionaly.
- If sauce becomes too thick over the course of cooking, a small amount of water can be added to thin it.
- Serve over spaghetti, on rolls, or however your heart desires.
Tips:
- Choose your ground meat wisely: For the best flavor, use a combination of ground beef and ground pork. You can also use all ground beef, but it will be less flavorful.
- Season the meat well: Use a generous amount of salt, pepper, and garlic powder to season the meat. You can also add other spices, such as Italian seasoning, oregano, or basil.
- Be gentle with the meat: When mixing the meat, be gentle so that you don't overwork it. Overworking the meat will make it tough.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients you use, the better your Italian meat bowls will be. Use fresh vegetables, herbs, and cheese.
- Don't be afraid to experiment: There are many different ways to make Italian meat bowls. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to find your favorite recipe.
Conclusion:
Italian meat bowls are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that the whole family will love. They're perfect for a weeknight dinner, a party, or a potluck. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, give Italian meat bowls a try.
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