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February 4, 2021 by Chef Katherine

Traditional Italian meatballs

Wondering if there’s a single meat-eating human on the planet who doesn’t like meatballs? I LOVE meatballs. All kinds. Years ago my husband (then boyfriend) and I took a trip to NYC… while there, we stumbled upon The Meat Ball Shoppe… essentially a restaurant with a menu full of different meatballs. It was amazing! Years later they released a cookbook and it’s still a favorite of mine, to this day. Over the years, I’ve combined a little of this and a little of that, and ended up with a delicious meatball recipe, myself!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground chuck
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 lb ground veal
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 cup freshly grated pecorino romano
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups dried breadcrumbs or I often substitute ground marcona almonds
  • 1-2 cups water

Instructions

Add the eggs, cheese, parsley and minced garlic, then salt and pepper as desired. Add the bread crumbs or almonds and mix well. Slowly add up to 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is moist; you may not need the entire cup. Shape into 1 1/2 -inch meatballs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You can pan fry these in avocado oil or roast them at 450 for 20-25 minutes. I prefer the roasted, less messy option but they sure are tasty when fried. You can also make your favorite marinara sauce, bring it to a simmer, gently drop the meatballs in and cook for 10-12 minutes, until cooked through. If you’re looking for a quicker version, Rao’s jarred sauces are, hands down, the BEST you’ll find!

In good food and good health,

Chef Katherine

About Chef Katherine

Growing up in a Greek family, my days of being delighted by delicious food, learning our traditional family recipes from my parents. As I grew, so also did my passion for the art of cooking and also for the importance of eating healthy, organic, sustainable food… food that nourishes the body and also feeds the mind and the soul. Follow me on Instagram @chefkatherine

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