Best 5 Raos Meatball Recipes

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**Rao's Meatballs: A Legendary Italian-American Dish, Now in Your Kitchen**

Rao's meatballs are a legendary dish that has been tantalizing taste buds for generations. Originating from Rao's Restaurant in New York City, these meatballs have gained a cult following due to their exceptional flavor and texture. Now, you can recreate this iconic dish in your own kitchen with our collection of carefully curated recipes.

Our selection includes both classic and modern interpretations of Rao's meatballs, ensuring that there's something for every palate. From the traditional Italian-American recipe, featuring a blend of ground beef, pork, and veal, to variations that incorporate lamb or turkey for a lighter twist, our recipes offer a diverse range of options.

Each recipe provides detailed instructions, guiding you through the process of creating these delectable meatballs, from selecting the right ingredients to perfecting the cooking techniques. We'll share tips on how to achieve the perfect balance of spices and seasonings, as well as how to cook the meatballs to ensure they remain juicy and flavorful.

Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, our collection of Rao's meatball recipes will empower you to create this beloved dish in the comfort of your own home. So, get ready to indulge in the rich flavors and aromas of Rao's meatballs, a dish that will surely become a favorite in your household.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

RAO'S MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE



Rao's Meatballs With Marinara Sauce image

This is one of the signature dishes at Rao's, the East Harlem red-sauce joint that is best-known for a loyal, boldface-name clientele that makes it difficult to get a table. The restaurant now has satellites in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Provided by Adam Nagourney

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 ounces salt pork, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 28-ounce cans imported Italian crushed tomatoes
6 leaves fresh basil, torn into small pieces
Pinch of dried oregano
Salt and ground black pepper
1 pound ground lean beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 small garlic clove, minced
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, lightly smashed

Steps:

  • Make the sauce: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, then add the salt pork. Sauté until fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard salt pork. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté just until softened. Add tomatoes with their juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 45 minutes. Add the basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute more.
  • Make the meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, veal and pork. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley and minced garlic, then salt and pepper as desired. Add the bread crumbs and mix well. Slowly add up to 2 cups water, 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is moist; all the water may not be needed. Shape into 1 1/2 -inch meatballs.
  • Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the smashed garlic and sauté until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then discard the garlic. Working in batches and taking care not to crowd the pan, add meatballs and fry until undersides are brown and slightly crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn and brown the other sides, about 5 minutes more. Transfer cooked meatballs to paper towels to drain, then add to the marinara sauce. Mix gently and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1086, UnsaturatedFat 55 grams, Carbohydrate 50 grams, Fat 79 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 49 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 1472 milligrams, Sugar 14 grams, TransFat 0 grams

RAO'S MEATBALLS



Rao's Meatballs image

Provided by Food Network

Yield Makes 14 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 pound lean ground beef
½ pound ground veal
½ pound ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 cups plain bread crumbs
2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup pure olive oil
2 24 oz. jars Rao's Homemade® Marinara Sauce
Italian bread (optional)

Steps:

  • Combine beef, veal and pork in a large bowl. Add eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic and salt & pepper to taste. Using your hands, blend ingredients together. Blend breadcrumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add water, 1 cup at a time, at a time until the mixture is quite moist.
  • Shape meat mixture into 6 oz. balls.
  • In a large sauté pan, add oil and heat over medium-high heat until hot, but not smoking. Fry meatballs in batches. When bottom of meatball is very brown and slightly crisp, turn and cook top half. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain.
  • Once meatballs have drained any excess oil, place meatballs into simmering Rao's Homemade® Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are hot through and through.
  • If serving a meatball sub, while meatballs are cooking in the Rao's Homemade® Marinara Sauce, horizontally slice Italian bread and remove inner bread by hand and lightly toast, add 3 meatballs, placing a dollop of sauce over each meatball and serve.

FRANKIE'S MEATBALLS



Frankie's Meatballs image

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

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 1/2 cloves garlic
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups plain dry bread crumbs
2 cups water, room temperature
1 cup olive oil
Cooked Pasta, (optional)
Rao's Marinara Sauce

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.

FRANKIE'S MEATBALLS (FROM THE FAMOUS RAO'S RESTAURANT IN NYC)



Frankie's Meatballs (From the Famous Rao's Restaurant in Nyc) image

Make and share this Frankie's Meatballs (From the Famous Rao's Restaurant in Nyc) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Mimi Bobeck

Categories     Veal

Time 20m

Yield 14-18 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground veal
1/2 lb ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/2-1 small garlic clove, minced
salt and pepper
2 cups plain breadcrumbs
2 cups water
1 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove, lightly smashed

Steps:

  • With your hands, combine the beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley, minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste and blend the ingredients together. Add the bread crumbs and blend into the meat mixture. Slowly add the water, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture is moist.
  • Shape the meat mixture into 2 1/2 to 3-inch balls.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet. Sauté the whole garlic until lightly brown to flavor the oil, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon and discard.
  • Add the meatballs and fry in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan. When the bottom half of the meatball is well browned and slightly crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes, turn it and cook the other side for 5 minutes more.
  • Remove the meatballs from the heat and drain them on paper towels.

RAO'S FAMOUS MEATBALLS



Rao's Famous Meatballs image

I saw this on the Today Show. I made them one night and now my family asks for them at least once a week. They may seem labor intensive but they are most certainly worth the effort. You can serve them with spaghetti or on their own. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Provided by fishywitch

Categories     Meat

Time 1h30m

Yield 14-16 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/2 lb ground veal
1/2 lb ground pork
4 large garlic cloves (3 minced and 1 reserved for frying)
2 tablespoons parsley
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups pecorino romano cheese, grated
1 cup plain breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
2 cups cooking oil or 2 cups olive oil, for frying
tomato sauce, of your choosing. (But really good in a tomato-basil sauce.)

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, place the meat and rub the minced garlic into it.
  • Press the meat in the bowl.
  • Add in this order: Salt, pepper, parsley, 2 eggs and water. Then sprinkle the cheese over the top as if you are going to cover the water. Finally, sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the cheese.
  • Mix from the outside of the bowl to the middle, folding it inches Do not overmix!
  • After the ingredients are mixed, start to roll the meatballs in your hands, about 6 ounces per meatball.
  • After your meatballs are rolled, take a 10 inch frying pan and add your oil and the reserved whole clove of garlic and heat. When the clove starts to brown, the oil is ready.
  • Fry the meatballs, cooking and flipping until golden brown, about 4 1/2 to 5 minutes per side.
  • Remove the meatballs after frying and put on a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil.
  • (If you want you can bake the meatballs on a lightly greased tray at 350 degrees-the taste is totally different than frying).
  • Add the meatballs to your tomato sauce to finish cooking.
  • Let simmer for at least 45-60 minutes.
  • Serve with the sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 488.4, Fat 44.1, SaturatedFat 8.9, Cholesterol 88.2, Sodium 121.9, Carbohydrate 6, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 0.6, Protein 16.9

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ground beef. A blend of chuck and sirloin is a good option, as it will give the meatballs a nice balance of flavor and texture.
  • Use fresh bread crumbs. Stale bread crumbs will make the meatballs dry and crumbly. To make your own bread crumbs, simply tear or cut bread into small pieces and pulse them in a food processor until they are fine.
  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing will make the meatballs tough. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined.
  • Let the meatballs rest before cooking. This will help them hold their shape and prevent them from falling apart.
  • Cook the meatballs in a hot oven. This will help them brown quickly and develop a nice crust.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the meatballs. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the meatballs are cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite sauce. Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce is a classic choice.

Conclusion:

These meatballs are sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering. They are easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So get creative and experiment with different flavors and ingredients. You're sure to find a combination that you love.

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