Savor the authentic flavors of traditional Italian meatballs with this culinary guide to the "spuntino way." This delectable appetizer or main course is a true testament to the vibrant culinary heritage of Italy, known for its rustic simplicity and bursting with flavor. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary adventures, this article will take you on a journey through the art of crafting perfect meatballs, exploring the techniques and ingredients that make this dish truly special.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
MEATBALLS: THE SPUNTINO WAY
Provided by Frank Falcinelli
Categories Beef Bake Dinner Meat Ground Beef Peanut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 6 servings; 18 to 20 meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Heat the oven to 325°F. Put the fresh bread in a bowl, cover it with water, and let it soak for a minute or so. Pour off the water and wring out the bread, then crumble and tear it into tiny pieces.
- 2. Combine the bread with all the remaining ingredients except the tomato sauce in a medium mixing bowl, adding them in the order they are listed. Add the dried bread crumbs last to adjust for wetness: the mixture should be moist wet, not sloppy wet.
- 3. Shape the meat mixture into handball-sized meatballs and space them evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The meatballs will be firm but still juicy and gently yielding when they're cooked through. (At this point, you can cool the meatballs and hold them in the refrigerator for as long as a couple of days or freeze them for the future.)
- 4. Meanwhile, heat the tomato sauce in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate the meatballs comfortably.
- 5. Dump the meatballs into the pan of sauce and nudge the heat up ever so slightly. Simmer the meatballs for half an hour or so (this isn't one of those cases where longer is better) so they can soak up some sauce. Keep them there until it's time to eat.
- 6. Serve the meatballs 3 to a person in a healthy helping of the red sauce, and hit everybody's portion-never the pan-with a fluffy mountain of grated cheese. Reserve the leftover tomato sauce (it will be super-extra-delicious) and use it anywhere tomato sauce is called for in this book.
JENN'S OUT OF THIS WORLD SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS
This authentic spaghetti and meatballs recipe is made with fresh oregano and parsley. Because the meatballs are cooked in the sauce, they are tender and savory.
Provided by JENNGOETZ
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until lightly brown. Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 1/2 the oregano, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer while preparing meatballs.
- In a bowl, mix the ground round, bread crumbs, remaining oregano, remaining garlic, parsley, eggs, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Roll into 1 inch balls, and drop into the sauce. Cook 40 minutes in the sauce, or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and stir in the spaghetti. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 571.9 calories, Carbohydrate 80.1 g, Cholesterol 86.6 mg, Fat 17 g, Fiber 7.7 g, Protein 27.7 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 1177.2 mg, Sugar 21.3 g
FRANKIES' MEATBALLS RECIPE | COOK THE BOOK
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 325°F. Put the fresh bread in a bowl, cover it with water, an let it soak for a minute or so. Pour off the water and wring out the bread, then crumble and tear it into tiny pieces.
- Combine the bread with all of the remaining ingredients except the tomato sauce in a medium mixing bowl, adding them in the order that they are listed. Add the dried bread crumbs last to adjust for wetness; the mixture should be moist wet, not sloppy wet.
- Shape the meat mixture into handball-sized meatballs and space them evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The meatballs will be firm but still juicy and gently yielding when they're cooked through. (At this point, you can cool the meatballs and hold them in the refrigerator for as long as a couple of days or freeze them for the future.)
- Meanwhile, heat the tomato sauce in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate the meatballs comfortably.
- Dump the meatballs into the pan of sauce and nudge the heat up ever so slightly. Simmer the meatballs for half an hour or so (this isn't one of those cases where longer is better) so they can soak up some of the sauce. Keep them there until it's time to eat.
- Serve the meatballs 3 to a person in a healthy helping of red sauce, and hit everybody's portion-never the pan-with a fluffy mountain of grated cheese. Reserve the leftover tomato sauce (it will be extra-super-delicious) and use it anywhere tomato sauce is called for in this book.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 579 kcal, Carbohydrate 21 g, Cholesterol 236 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 47 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 1007 mg, Sugar 5 g, Fat 33 g, ServingSize 18 to 20 meatballs, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
MEATBALLS TONY'S WAY
Pine nuts and raisins gives these classic meatballs from "The Frankies Spuntino Kitchen Companion and Cooking Manual," by chefs Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo, an added boost of texture and sweetness.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes
Yield Makes 18 to 20 meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place bread in a medium bowl; add enough water to moisten and let stand for 1 minute. Drain and squeeze liquid from bread; tear or crumble bread into small pieces and transfer to a large bowl, along with ground beef, garlic, parsley, cheese, raisins, pine nuts, salt, pepper, eggs, and dried breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined.
- Shape meat mixture into 2 1/2-inch meatballs. Place equal amounts of olive and grapeseed oil in a large skillet so that the skillet is filled 1/2-inch deep with oil and heat over medium heat. When oil is hot, add meatballs to skillet, working in batches if necessary, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Heat tomato sauce in a large saucepan. Transfer meatballs to saucepan and let simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with remaining cheese.
FRANKIES SPUNTINO RESTAURANT NEW YORK - ITALIAN MEATBALLS
These amazing Italian baked meatballs are from the world famous Frankies Spuntino Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York! Perfectly textured, not at all dense but not falling-apart crumbly, with just the right amount of egg, bread crumbs, garlic, and cheese throughout. But what really makes these meatballs special is the addition of raisins and pine nuts. At the restaurant, they come three to an order with plenty of tomato sauce for sopping and a generous grating of Pecorino. I like to keep a bag of these delectable meatballs on hand in my freezer to pop into a pot of my Easy Spaghetti recipe #278033. Wonderful! Enjoy with a nice glass of red wine such as Chianti. Buon appetito!
Provided by BecR2400
Categories Meatballs
Time 55m
Yield 20 meatballs, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the bread in a large bowl, cover with water and let soak until saturated, about 1 minute. Pour off the remaining water, wring out the bread, and tear it into tiny pieces (place back into bowl).
- To the bread, add all of the ingredients, except for the dried breadcrumbs (which you will add in last, using more or less as necessary).
- Using your hands, combine all the ingredients together. Form the mixture into golf ball size meatballs.
- Lay out your meatballs on 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake for 25 minutes in a 325F oven.
- At this point, you can cool the meatballs and hold them in the refrigerator for as long as a couple of days or freeze them for the future.
- Serve 3 meatballs per person with a healthy helping of your favorite red tomato sauce (homemade or store bought). Top each portion with a fluffy mountain of grated cheese. Buon appetito!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 417.3, Fat 22.7, SaturatedFat 7.6, Cholesterol 222.3, Sodium 816.1, Carbohydrate 14.9, Fiber 1, Sugar 4.7, Protein 36.8
WORLD'S FASTEST MEATBALLS
These meatballs are significantly faster than a traditional recipe because there is no chopping or pan-frying for the base mixture and they are small, so they cook fast.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Pour tomato sauce into a large stockpot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low to keep sauce warm while preparing meatballs.
- Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush lightly with oil.
- Whisk bread crumbs, milk, egg, Italian herb seasoning, olive oil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl to form a thick slurry. Set aside.
- Combine beef and veal in a large bowl. Season with salt, black pepper, and white pepper; sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Pour in slurry and mix until combined.
- Use a small portion scooper to form meat mixture into about 48 meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs under the preheated broiler until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn meatballs and broil until browned on both sides and no longer pink in the center, 3 to 4 additional minutes.
- Transfer meatballs to the stockpot with the simmering tomato sauce. Increase heat to medium and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or longer if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 387.4 calories, Carbohydrate 21.1 g, Cholesterol 134.8 mg, Fat 19.7 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 32.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 2089.7 mg, Sugar 11 g
FRANKIE'S MEATBALLS
This recipe for Frankie's Meatballs comes from "Rao's Cookbook," by Frank Pellegrino. Rao's is one of Michael Kors' favorite restaurants in Manhattan.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes
Yield Makes 14 to 18 meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine beef and pork using your hands. Mince 1/2 clove garlic and add to meat mixture along with the eggs, cheese, and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Continue mixing with your hand until well combined. Add bread crumbs and mix well. Add water, 1 cup at a time, and continue mixing until mixture is quite moist.
- Shape mixture into 2 1/2-to-3-inch balls. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Smash remaining clove of garlic with the back of a knife and add to skillet. Cook until lightly browned and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon and discard. Working in batches, add meatballs to skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through, turning, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
- Meanwhile, bring marinara sauce to a boil in a large nonreactive saucepan. Reduce heat to a simmer and add meatball. Let meatballs cook in sauce about 20 minutes; serve immediately with pasta, if desired.
Tips:
- Choose the right meat: A combination of beef and pork is ideal for a moist and flavorful meatball. Ground lamb or veal can also be used.
- Use fresh bread crumbs: This will help to bind the mixture together and give it a light and fluffy texture.
- Don't overwork the mixture: Overworking the mixture can make the finished product tough and dense.
- Chill the mixture before cooking: This will help to keep the shape of the balls. If your mixture is especially loose, chill it for an hour or two or overnight.
- Cook the balls over medium heat: This will help to prevent them from browning too quickly on the outside and staying raw on the inside.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature: The safe internal temperature for cooked ground meat is 160°F (71°C). It is best not to cook a meatball over 175-degrees F (79-degrees C). This can cause the proteins in the meatball to seize and will produce a tough meatball.
- Serve the balls immediately: They are best when served hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Meatballs are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you are making them for a party, a weeknight dinner, or a special occasion, these tips will help you create perfect ones every time. Remember, practice makes perfect. So, don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients and techniques until you find the combination that you like best. With a little effort, you can easily be a meatball-making pro!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love