**Italian Meatball Seasoning: A Flavorful Journey into Italian Cuisine**
In the realm of culinary delights, Italian meatballs stand out as a delectable symbol of comfort and authenticity. These tender, juicy orbs of seasoned ground meat, often served in rich tomato sauce or nestled atop a bed of spaghetti, have captivated taste buds for generations. With a symphony of herbs, spices, and secret ingredients, Italian meatball seasoning elevates ordinary ground meat into an extraordinary culinary experience.
This comprehensive guide explores the art of crafting the perfect Italian meatball seasoning, offering a collection of carefully curated recipes that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. From classic Italian seasoning blends that evoke the rustic charm of trattorias to adventurous variations infused with exotic spices and zesty herbs, this article provides a roadmap for creating meatballs that are bursting with flavor and personality.
Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this exploration of Italian meatball seasoning will inspire you to create delicious meatballs that will become a staple in your kitchen repertoire. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and embark on a flavor-filled expedition into the world of Italian meatballs.
GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALL RECIPE
Grandma's tender and juicy meatball recipe simmered in a delicious tomato sauce and served with spaghetti noodles, classic Italian food.
Provided by Jessica Gavin
Categories Entree
Time 2h30m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic, sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer covered, with lid slightly ajar to prevent splattering for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Set the oven rack to the lower-middle position and set it to broil. Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it with olive oil. Set aside.In a large bowl, add the ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, minced onion, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic. Use hands to mix thoroughly until combined.
- Measure and roll the ground beef mixture into ⅓ cup (3 ounces) rounds, about the size of an egg. Evenly space the pieces on the baking sheet, there should be about 14 to 15 meatballs.
- Broil the meatballs until the surface is browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Turn over and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to lightly brown the other side.
- Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce. Cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, simmer on low heat for at least 1 ½ hours, checking and stirring every 20 minutes, or as needed. The meatballs should be fork tender when sliced.
- At the end of cooking, adjust the consistency of the sauce with water if needed, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve meatballs with spaghetti topped with sauce, sliced basil, and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 216 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 44 mg, Sodium 810 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
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
ITALIAN MEATBALLS
I just plain love good meatballs!, and mine are pretty darn good! *Omit the parmesan cheese when using for other recipes that are not italian-style.
Provided by Wildflour
Categories Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients.
- Add rest of ingredients and lightly mix, but mix well, with hands. Form into 20 meatballs.
- Place them on lightly oiled cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle tops lightly with coarse ground pepper.
- Bake in 400º over for 20-25 minutes. *Mine always take 22 minutes in my oven.
- If they are still just a little pink inside, it's ok if they are to simmer in a sauce, otherwise bake til done.
- Simmer in spaghetti sauce on low for 5-10 minutes.
- *You can omit the parmesan and use parsley instead if italian seasoning, and use these meatballs for other recipes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 376.6, Fat 19.4, SaturatedFat 8.1, Cholesterol 152.4, Sodium 907.9, Carbohydrate 11.4, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 1.2, Protein 36.6
Tips:
- Use high-quality ground beef for the meatballs. A combination of ground chuck and ground sirloin works well.
- Season the meatballs generously with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and oregano.
- Use a light touch when mixing the meatball mixture. Overworking the mixture can make the meatballs tough.
- Form the meatballs into 1-inch balls. You can use a cookie scoop or your hands to do this.
- Brown the meatballs in a large skillet over medium heat. Make sure the meatballs are browned on all sides.
- Transfer the browned meatballs to a slow cooker. Add the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve the meatballs with spaghetti, rice, or your favorite side dish.
Conclusion:
These Italian meatballs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The meatballs are packed with flavor and the sauce is rich and flavorful. You can also freeze the meatballs for later use. Just thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
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