Italian-American Meatballs

  5.0 – 1 reviews  • High Fiber
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 55 min
Prep: 25 min
Inactive: 1 hr 5 min
Cook: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. 2 slices stale white sandwich bread
  2. 1/3 cup cold milk
  3. 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  4. 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
  5. 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  6. 1/2 medium onion, grated (about 1/4 cup)
  7. 1 large egg, beaten
  8. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  9. 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  10. 1/3 cup olive oil
  11. 2 cups Quick Marinara Sauce, recipe follows
  12. Serving suggestion: 1 pound cooked spaghetti or linguine
  13. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  14. 1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
  15. 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  16. Two 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes, roughly chopped
  17. 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  18. 1 small bunch fresh basil, leaves chopped
  19. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Grate the bread on a box grater or pulse it into crumbs in a food processor. Toss the breadcrumbs with the milk in a small bowl and let sit 5 minutes to rehydrate.
  2. Combine the breadcrumbs, beef, Parmesan, parsley, onion, egg, garlic and salt in a large bowl and mix until combined.
  3. Using your hands, gently form the meat mixture into 18 balls slightly larger than golf balls. (Don’t pack the meat together too tightly or the meatballs will be tough.) Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the meatballs on a baking sheet until cooked through and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
  5. Serve immediately with the Quick Marinara Sauce and spaghetti or on sandwiches. The baked meatballs can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen in an airtight container up to 6 weeks.
  6. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, thyme and basil and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
  7. Remove and discard the thyme stems. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. The sauce can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen in an airtight container up to 2 months. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1069
Total Fat 76 g
Saturated Fat 22 g
Carbohydrates 50 g
Dietary Fiber 11 g
Sugar 13 g
Protein 50 g
Cholesterol 185 mg
Sodium 1811 mg

 

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