**Polpette: A Journey Through Italian Cuisine**
Polpette, or Italian meatballs, are a culinary delight that has captured the hearts of food lovers worldwide. These savory orbs of minced meat, breadcrumbs, and spices are a testament to the rich culinary traditions of Italy. Our collection of polpettine recipes offers a diverse array of flavors and cooking techniques, ensuring that there's something for every palate.
From the classic Neapolitan polpette al sugo, simmering in a flavorful tomato sauce, to the aromatic polpette di melanzane, featuring succulent eggplant, our recipes showcase the versatility of this beloved dish. Discover the secrets of creating tender and juicy meatballs with our expert tips and step-by-step instructions. Elevate your culinary skills and impress your family and friends with these authentic Italian meatballs, each bursting with flavor and embodying the essence of Italian home cooking.
POLPETTE - ITALIAN MEATBALLS IN RICH TOMATO SAUCE
Polpette Al Sugo or classic Italian Meatballs are soft, juicy bite-size nuggets cooked to perfection in rich tomato sauce.
Provided by Italian Recipe Book
Categories Main Course
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large bowl add ground beef and crumble it with a wooden spoon or simply using your fingers.
- Add finely chopped shallot. I like to use a microplane grater as it extracts all the juices to go with the meat and minces the shallot really well.
- Add ground nutmeg, breadcrumbs, egg(s) and Parmesan cheese.
- Mix everything well with your hands.
- Slowly pour in the milk. Mix again until smooth and even texture.
- Add salt and pepper.
- If the mixture feels too dry add some more milk, if way too soft, almost liquid-y - add more breadcrumbs.
- An ideal meatball mix should be moist, easy to roll in your hands and hold the shape.
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Pinch of about an ounce of meat and roll it between the palms of your hands giving it a smooth round shape with no cracks.
- With an ounce of meat you'll have medium size meatballs, think walnut size.
- Of course you can make your meatballs smaller or bigger, depending your preference.
- Place rolled meatballs on a baking sheet (see notes!).Line with parchment paper to avoid extra cleaning.Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
- In a large skillet pan add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
- Add baked meatballs, tomato pure (clean the can/bottle with about a quarter cup water and add to the sauce).
- Add garlic cloves crushed with a flat knife, handful of fresh basil leaves and generous drizzle of dried oregano.
- Bring to simmer and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
POLPETTE NAPOLETANE
Steps:
- Put the bread in a small mixing bowl, cover with milk, and leave to soak.
- Chop the parsley and garlic together. Put meat into a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the milk out of the bread and add to meat. Add parsley and garlic. Use your hands to mix the ingredients. Break eggs into the mixture to bind it. Keep mixing. Add the pecorino. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Shape meatballs by hand, make a hole in the top and insert a small piece of mozzarella. Cover it up and pat meatball into shape. Roll them in bread crumbs. Pour olive oil into a frying pan and when it's really hot, fry the meatballs for 5 minutes, or until they have formed a crust. Then turn over. When golden brown and crusty on both sides remove the meatballs from the pan and drain on paper towels.
- Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce, cover and cook very slowly on low heat for 45 minutes, until the sauce is reduced by half.
- Pour enough oil into a saucepan to cover the surface. Add garlic and 3 tins of tomatoes, mashing them slightly. Boil the sauce for 5 minutes and simmer for another 3 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 8 minutes
POLPETTINI
Steps:
- Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put the pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt, to taste, and saute until they are translucent and aromatic but have no color, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the meats, rosemary, Parmesan, water, bread crumbs, and eggs. Season generously with salt and add the cooked onions and garlic. Combine until well mixed. (Squish with your hands, it's fun!)
- Make a small patty of the meat mixture. Cook it and eat it. This is a tester patty to check and see if the seasoning is correct (it will probably need salt). Adjust the seasoning, if needed.
- Roll the meat mixture into 3/4-inch meatballs. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put over high heat. Working in batches, cook the polpettini until they are brown on all sides. Add half a cup of chicken stock and cook until the stock has reduced by half. Remove to serving platters. Repeat this process until all the polpettini are cooked and serve immediately. Buonissimo!
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS/POLPETTE
My mom's friend who is Italian gave me a copy of her family cookbook that they had bound and published. It was a wedding shower gift that I treasure. As a newlywed I used this recipe a lot! I've been married 16 years and I make these with spaghetti, for meatball sandwiches, and smaller versions for appetizers to take in a crockpot to parties. Some friends think it is strange to put uncooked meatballs in the sauce, but that's what the recipe says to do. It cooks for a long time, and the meatballs keep their shape. I do not make my own spaghetti sauce. I buy two large jars of Ragu. No one seems to notice, or care!!Always a hit!!! Makes a lot and freezes well.
Provided by janwithaplan
Categories Meat
Time 2h45m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients together
- Form about the size of golf balls
- Make or pour tomato sauce into a deep pot Drop meat balls in sauce.
- Simmer for at least 2 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 305.8, Fat 18.8, SaturatedFat 7.2, Cholesterol 118.8, Sodium 207.2, Carbohydrate 8.4, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 0.9, Protein 24.1
ITALIAN MEATBALLS WITH CAPERS (POLPETTINE AI CAPPERI)
Provided by Frank J. Prial
Categories dinner, appetizer
Time 45m
Yield Fourteen meatballs
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Put the meat in a mixing bowl.
- Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the onions. Cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted. Set aside and let cool briefly.
- Soak the bread crumbs in the milk and add this to the meat. Add the egg, cooked onions, salt and pepper. Add the marjoram and parsley and blend well.
- Divide the mixture into 14 portions and flatten each. Make a slight depression in the center of each meatball. Add an equal portion of the capers in the center of each. Bring up the edges and shape into balls, enclosing the capers in the center.
- Dredge each ball in flour and shake off excess.
- Heat the oil in a heavy, nonstick skillet and add the meatballs without crowding. Cook, turning carefully, until the meatballs are browned on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the wine and cover closely. Let simmer 12 minutes. Serve with a little of the hot pan liquid spooned over.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 79, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 126 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
POLPETTINE IN AGRODOLCE DI GANGIVECCHIO (SWEET SOUR MEATBALLS)
This recipe is from the restaurant located in Gangivecchio, the 600-year-old Tornabene family home in Sicily. In Italian, antipasti literally means "before the meal." Appropriately enough, antipasti are small portions of foods that are served as a tantalizing overture to the fundamental courses in a menu. At Gangivecchio, they typically serve three or four of an assortment of antipasti rustici. A small amount of each antipasto is arranged on individual plates for every diner. In Sicily, until the last several decades, antipasti were served only at special celebrations or large functions like weddings and official receptions. Many Sicilians were too poor and too busy to prepare antipasti. Restaurants really invented antipasti, which were and are often still temptingly displayed on a long table containing as many as two dozen or more dishes. These dishes ranged from stuffed vegetables to marinated seafood, usually served at room temperature.
Provided by Member 610488
Categories Veal
Time 55m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a bowl combine the veal, egg, bread crumbs, parsley, and pecorino and season with salt and pepper. Shape lightly into 1-inch balls (about 36).
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a frying pan. Cook the veal balls over medium heat until brown all over and just cooked through, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan and stir in the onions. Season with salt and cook over medium-low heat until the onions are limp, about 15 minutes, stirring often. Don't let the onions brown.
- Stir in the vinegar, sugar, and water.
- Return the meatballs to the pan and gently turn to coat them lightly in the sauce. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, shaking the pan frequently. Transfer to a serving dish and cool. Serve at room temperature.
Tips:
- To ensure the meatballs are cooked evenly, use a meat thermometer to check that they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- To add extra flavor and moisture to the meatballs, try soaking the bread in milk or broth before adding it to the mixture.
- If you don't have any bread crumbs on hand, you can use crushed crackers or even rolled oats as a substitute.
- Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices to create your own unique flavor combination. Some popular additions include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried oregano.
- For a crispy exterior, brown the meatballs in a pan over medium-high heat before simmering them in the sauce.
Conclusion:
These classic Italian meatballs are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether you serve them with spaghetti, rice, or mashed potatoes, they are sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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