Meatballs

Polpette al sugo

Meatballs in tomato sauce, or "polpette al sugo" in Italian, are a traditional dish with roots in various culinary cultures around the world. While commonly associated with Italian cuisine, variations of meatballs can also be found in other cuisines such as Swedish, Turkish, Greek, and many others.

In Italian cuisine, meatballs in tomato sauce are a beloved and iconic dish. They are often prepared using a combination of ground meats, such as beef and pork, but may also include other types of meat like lamb. The meat is typically mixed with breadcrumbs, eggs, cheese, garlic, parsley, and spices. Once the meatballs are formed, they are often lightly seared in a pan to achieve a slight browning before being cooked in tomato sauce.

The tomato sauce that accompanies the meatballs is equally significant. It usually consists of a simple sauce made from peeled tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, and a selection of aromatic herbs like basil and oregano. The meatballs are then submerged in the sauce and simmered over low heat, allowing them to absorb the flavors of the sauce while becoming tender and flavorful.

What’s needed:

• Tools:

• 1 blender

• 1 big pot for the sauce

• Ingredients (serves 4 people)

• 7 oz minced beef (80% lean, 20% fat)

• 5,3 oz italian sausage

• 0,9 oz Grated Parmesan cheese

• 1,75 oz staled bread crumb

• 1 egg

• Nutmeg

• 1 spoon of minced parsley

• 9 oz tomato puree

• 1 clove of garlic

How To:

Begin by blending the bread in a blender until it becomes a fine dust.

Take the skin off the sausage and put it in a bowl with the minced beef. Include the cheese, parsley, a few gratings of nutmeg, the egg, the breadcrumbs, and, if desired, oregano. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Use your hands to knead all the ingredients together and shape the meatballs, aiming for around 0,70 oz per meatball. Be careful not to press them too tightly.

Next, heat some olive oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs, turning them occasionally until they achieve a golden brown color on all sides.

Introduce the tomato puree and 1 clove of garlic into the pan, along with some water. Cover the pan with a lid and allow it to cook for approximately 20 minutes.

After this time, sample one of the meatballs to determine if it's fully cooked. If it's ready, serve the meatballs while they're piping hot, accompanied by some bread.

This recipe is an excellent opportunity to cook alongside your kids. They will both enjoy participating in its preparation and savoring the meal... and, of course, using a piece of bread to scoop up the remaining sauce at the end!