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.

Diribi Tafese
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These meatballs were perfect for a weeknight meal. They were easy to make and very flavorful.


One Shop Toys F7
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I'm not a huge fan of veal, but I really enjoyed these meatballs. The ricotta cheese and tomato sauce helped to balance out the flavor of the veal.


Waheed Zaman
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These meatballs were a bit time-consuming to make, but they were worth it. They were so tender and flavorful.


The Downing - Pou Boys
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These meatballs were easy to make and turned out great. I will definitely be making them again.


Lony Makoatle
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These meatballs were amazing! I will definitely be making them again.


mesay endale
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Overall, these meatballs were good, but not great. I think I would try a different recipe next time.


Parmeshwori Shrestha
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The tomato sauce was a bit too acidic for my taste. I would add a little sugar next time.


MD.Azizul Hakim Azizul
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These meatballs were a bit dry for my taste. I think I would add more ricotta cheese next time.


Faisal Kareem
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I'm not a fan of ricotta cheese, but I still really enjoyed these meatballs. The veal and tomato sauce were very flavorful.


ma Lo
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These meatballs are a bit time-consuming to make, but they are definitely worth it. They are so tender and flavorful, and the tomato sauce is delicious.


Jermaine Milton
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I made these meatballs for my Italian grandmother and she loved them! She said they were the best meatballs she had ever had.


david njuguna
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These meatballs are so good! I love the combination of veal and ricotta cheese. The tomato sauce is also very flavorful and complements the meatballs perfectly.


Rao Ashfaq
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I've made these meatballs several times now and they are always a hit. They are perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.


Bikas Limbu
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These meatballs were easy to make and turned out great. I used ground beef instead of veal and they were still delicious. The tomato sauce was also very flavorful.


Claudetter Mmary
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I'm not a huge fan of veal, but I really enjoyed these meatballs. The ricotta cheese and tomato sauce helped to balance out the flavor of the veal.


Nurul Hoque
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I made these meatballs for a party and they were a huge success. Everyone loved them! The combination of veal and ricotta cheese made them so moist and flavorful.


KiD Meeth
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These meatballs were a hit with my family! They were so tender and flavorful, and the tomato sauce was delicious. I will definitely be making these again.