GIANT VEAL AND RICOTTA MEATBALLS BRAISED IN TOMATO SAUCE

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GIANT VEAL AND RICOTTA MEATBALLS BRAISED IN TOMATO SAUCE image

Categories     Beef

Yield 12 large

Number Of Ingredients 18

The Braising Sauce
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk with leaves, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 cups tomato juice (I used more of a tomato puree)
2 cups chicken stock
The Meatballs
1 cup fresh bread crumbs made from day-old rustic white bread
1/2 cup buttermilk (or whole milk)
3/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon coarse salt
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 lbs ground veal

Steps:

  • For the braising sauce: Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and barely translucent but not at all browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper Add the bay leaf, tomato juice, and stock. Bring to a simmer, stirring once or twice, and simmer for 15-20 minutes While the sauce is simmering, make the meatballs: Combine the bread crumbs and buttermilk in a small bowl. Stir the bread crumbs around to moisten them. Let sit 5-10 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmigiano, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Add the soaked bread crumbs and buttermilk and stir everything until well mixed. Break off hunks of the ground veal and drop them into the bowl. Then gently knead the meat to work in all the other ingredients. The goal is to blend everything evenly without overworking the meat - if you overmix it, the meatballs can become tough and heavy. Shaping the meatballs: Using a 1/3 cup measure, scoop out a heaping portion of the veal mixture for each meatball and shape it into a round ball. Again, take care not to squeeze or overmanipulate the mixture. Arrange the balls on a large platter or tray without touching one another. The braise: When the sauce is ready, reduce heat to medium-low and one by one, lower the meatballs into the skillet using a wooden spoon. Once all the meatballs are in the pan, spoon a little sauce over the top of each one and cover the pan. Adjust the burner so that the sauce stays at a low simmer and bubbles lazily rising to the surface. If it simmers too fast, the meatballs will toughen and the full exchange of flavor between sauce and meat won't occur. After 20 minutes, carefully turn the meatballs with a a large spoon. They're fragile spoon sauce over the tops again, cover, and continue to simmer until the meatballs feel firm to the touch, indicating they are cooked all the way through, 35-45 minutes.

Terrell hutto
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I was looking for a new meatball recipe, and I'm so glad I found this one. These meatballs are amazing! They're so easy to make, and they taste even better the next day. I will definitely be making these again.


Ankush Mondol
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These meatballs are delicious! I made them for my family for dinner, and they loved them. The meatballs were so tender and juicy, and the tomato sauce was perfect. I will definitely be making these again.


M A MALAK
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I've been making these meatballs for years, and they're always a favorite. They're so easy to make, and they always turn out perfectly. I usually serve them over spaghetti, but they're also great on their own.


Pookie Dozier
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I made these meatballs for a potluck, and they were a big hit. Everyone loved them. They were so easy to make, and they tasted even better the next day.


Yas Firas
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These meatballs were a bit more work than I expected, but they were worth it. They were so delicious, and my family loved them. I will definitely be making them again.


Joshua Davis
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I'm not a big fan of veal, but I decided to try this recipe anyway. I'm so glad I did! The meatballs were so delicious, and the tomato sauce was perfect. I will definitely be making these again.


Adeep Grg
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I was looking for a new meatball recipe, and I'm so glad I found this one. These meatballs are amazing! They're so easy to make, and they taste even better the next day. I will definitely be making these again.


Bawa Jee
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These meatballs are delicious! I made them for my family for dinner, and they loved them. The meatballs were so tender and juicy, and the tomato sauce was perfect. I will definitely be making these again.


Shipon Kumar
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I've been making these meatballs for years, and they're always a favorite. They're so easy to make, and they always turn out perfectly. I usually serve them over spaghetti, but they're also great on their own.


Henry Bezuidenhout
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I made these meatballs for a potluck, and they were a big hit. Everyone loved them. They were so easy to make, and they tasted even better the next day.


Adnan Yeamin
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These meatballs were a bit more work than I expected, but they were worth it. They were so delicious, and my family loved them. I will definitely be making them again.


Hamzat Ganiu
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I was a bit skeptical about making these meatballs because I'm not a big fan of veal. But I was pleasantly surprised! The meatballs were so moist and flavorful, and the tomato sauce was delicious. I will definitely be making these again.


Rose Bunmi
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These meatballs are amazing! I made them for my husband's birthday dinner, and he loved them. They were so tender and juicy, and the tomato sauce was perfect. I will definitely be making these again.


Susan L
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I've made these meatballs several times now, and they're always a hit. They're so easy to make, and they taste delicious. I usually serve them over spaghetti, but they're also great on their own.


Klodjan Myrto
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I made these meatballs for a party and they were a huge success! Everyone loved them. They were so easy to make, and they tasted even better the next day.


Anando Mia
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I followed the recipe exactly, and the meatballs turned out great. They were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The tomato sauce was also very tasty. I served the meatballs over spaghetti, and they were a big hit with my family.


Md Alif Bepary
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These meatballs were a hit with my family! The combination of veal and ricotta made them so moist and flavorful. The tomato sauce was also delicious, and the meatballs simmered in it perfectly. I will definitely be making these again!