Description
Hearty Italian meatballs simmering in rich tomato sauce bring classic Mediterranean comfort to dinner tables. Savory ground beef, herbs, and Parmesan cheese combine for a satisfying meal you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef (or mix of beef and pork)
- 1 can (28 oz/800 grams) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup (50 grams) breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsps olive oil (for frying)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk
- ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Breadcrumb Preparation: Saturate breadcrumbs with milk, allowing them to transform into a soft, moisture-rich texture that will enhance the meatballs’ delicate consistency.
- Flavor Fusion: Merge ground beef with plumped breadcrumbs, introducing egg, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper into a comprehensive mixture that promises robust taste and delectable complexity.
- Meatball Composition: Meticulously blend and knead the protein mixture until ingredients are perfectly integrated, ensuring a harmonious distribution that guarantees each bite delivers consistent flavor and optimal tenderness.
- Shaping Technique: Sculpt uniform spherical meatballs using gentle palm rolling, creating golf ball-sized portions that promise even cooking and visually appealing presentation, setting the stage for culinary excellence.
- Cooking Preparation: Position the crafted meatballs strategically, primed for their preferred cooking method—whether destined for sizzling pan-frying, precise oven baking, or luxurious simmering within a rich tomato sauce landscape.
Notes
- Moistening Breadcrumbs Carefully: Use room temperature milk to help breadcrumbs absorb liquid perfectly, creating a softer, more tender meatball texture without making the mixture too wet.
- Mixing Meat Gently: Avoid overworking the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs; mix just until ingredients are evenly distributed for a light, delicate consistency.
- Sizing Meatballs Consistently: Use a small ice cream scoop or measuring spoon to ensure uniform size, which guarantees even cooking and professional-looking presentation.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for lighter versions; use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe celiac-friendly and accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg