Mikes Moms Meatballs Recipes

BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a baking sheet with rimmed edges with nonstick spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, milk, egg, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and 1/4 cup of the beef broth. Mix until well combined.
• Add the meat to the mixture and just combine. Do not over mix, but be sure seasonings are well dispersed.
• Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture, using a tablespoon measuring spoon or medium cookie scoop, and then gently shape into 1-inch meatballs. Place the meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Pour the remaining 3/4 cup beef broth around meatballs, it is okay if the broth does not fully cover the pan.
• Bake the meatballs for 22-25 minutes, or until the broth is evaporated and the meatballs are browned.

MOM'S BEST SUNDAY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl. Soak a loaf of Italian bread for about 3 minutes.
• Remove bread from the water. Remove the crust and discard, leaving only the inside dough.
• Use your hands and squeeze all liquid from the bread. Transfer bread to a large bowl.
• Combine bread with ground beef, eggs, cheese, garlic powder, pepper, and parsley.
• Mix with your hands to combine well, or use your food processor. Using a spoon to mix will not work. The mixture will be very sticky. Best to wash your hands before shaping them into meatballs.
• Scoop a small amount of meat mixture into your hand and roll into 2-inch balls. Transfer each meatball onto a sheet of wax paper. Set them aside.
• On the stovetop, using a deep medium-size skillet, pour oil.
• Heat oil on medium heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add a few meatballs and fry until the bottom is crispy brown. Gently turn meatballs over once and continue until crispy brown.
• Remove meatballs from the pan and drain onto a platter lined with paper towels.
• Repeat until all meatballs are fully cooked.
• Eat them alone, fried or place them into your Tomato Sauce and simmer for about 30 minutes to one hour. Using a spoon, gently remove the meatballs, transfer them onto a platter and serve.
• Yields: about 20 meatballs
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, add the olive oil, onions, red pepper flakes, and basil, and simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Then add only one can of tomatoes (blended) to the onions to prevent the onions from burning while cooking. (This is a trick my husband learned from his mom). Occasionally stirring. Continue to simmer the onions on low heat for another 15 minutes.
• Then add in the rest of the tomatoes and salt. Cover and raise the heat to bring to the sauce a boil. Lower the heat again, and continue to simmer the sauce on low heat.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer for an additional hour, occasionally stirring the sauce. The total cooking time should be about 1 and ½ hours. Taste the sauce. Turn off the heat. Allow the sauce to cool down slightly.
• Yields: 3 quarts

CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS WITH SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the meatballs: Combine the ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, nutmeg, garlic, egg and onion in a medium bowl until just mixed. Do not overwork. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and roll into balls.
• Heat a cast-iron pan on the hot side of the grill until nice and hot. Brush the pan with enough olive oil to liberally coat the surface, about 3 tablespoons.
• Place the meatballs in the pan and cook, flipping them, until all sides are caramelized, about 3 minutes. Move the pan to the indirect-heat side of the grill and cover the grill. Cook for 5 minutes.
• For the sauce: Add the garlic, oregano and onion to the pan with the meatballs and saute until the onions begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the meatballs, then add the tomato puree and 1/2 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the grill and continue to cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• For topping and serving: Top the meatballs with the mozzarella, cover the grill and cook until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Discard the oregano sprig. Spoon the meatballs on top of the Soft Polenta. Spoon any remaining sauce over top and serve topped with the Parmesan and basil if using.
• (Alternatively, you can cook the meatballs and the sauce as directed in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, then transfer the skillet to a 400 degrees F oven for 10 to 15 minutes before melting the cheese.)
• Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and the olive oil to a medium saucepot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream, until it is all incorporated and smooth. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook at a simmer until the polenta is creamy and fully hydrated, 30 to 40 minutes. Take the saucepot off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the polenta to a large serving bowl.

MIKE'S MOM'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine ingredients in a large bowl.
• Form into meatballs, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter (they will shrink a little while cooking).
• Place meatballs on a roasting pan.
• Add water to the roasting pan.
• Bake at 400 for 15 minutes (adjust cooking times according to size of meatballs).
• Turn meatballs over and bake additional 15 minutes or until done.

THE BEST MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

DOM'S MOM'S TENDER MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly; let stand 1/2 hour. Shape into medium-sized meatballs. Fry gently in olive oil until lightly brown, or place on foil in a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes.
• Gently place in your own hot spaghetti sauce and cook on medium-low heat for one hour.

MICHAEL SYMON'S MOTHER'S RICOTTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine ground pork & ground beef in a bowl. Add ricotta cheese and egg. Mix thoroughly. Stir in flat leaf parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, nutmeg, and salt. Sprinkle in flour. Form meat mixture into 1" balls. (Sic. What is meant is to form the meatballs, then dust them in flour prior to frying.).
• Warm olive oil in sauté pan over medium-high heat. Fry meatballs until golden brown. Remove from pan & set aside.
• Heat more olive oil in sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sweat onions and garlic cloves in olive oil until translucent (4-5 minutes). Deglaze pan by adding red wine, then cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add tomatoes and chile flakes, then bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste. Add meatballs, then simmer for 30 minutes.