Ricette Italiane (Italian Recipes)

© Copyright 1995-2023, Clay Irving <clay@panix.com>, Manhattan Beach, CA USA

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Polpette Napoletane

Recipe from: Tyler's Ultimate Episode: Meat Balls, courtesy of Baroness Cecilia Bellelli
Servings: 6 servings

2 slices stale white bread, crusts removed
1 cup milk
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
9 ounces minced beef and pork, equal amounts
2 fresh eggs
2 ounces pecorino, grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 buffalo mozzarella, drained and chopped into little pieces
Unseasoned bread crumbs
Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying
Tomato sauce, recipe follows

Put the bread in a small mixing bowl, cover with milk, and leave to soak.

Chop the parsley and garlic together. Put meat into a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the milk out of the bread and add to meat. Add parsley and garlic. Use your hands to mix the ingredients. Break eggs into the mixture to bind it. Keep mixing. Add the pecorino. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Shape meatballs by hand, make a hole in the top and insert a small piece of mozzarella. Cover it up and pat meatball into shape. Roll them in bread crumbs. Pour olive oil into a frying pan and when it's really hot, fry the meatballs for 5 minutes, or until they have formed a crust. Then turn over. When golden brown and crusty on both sides remove the meatballs from the pan and drain on paper towels.

Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce, cover and cook very slowly on low heat for 45 minutes, until the sauce is reduced by half.

Tomato sauce
Servings: 6 servings
Time: 8 minutes cooking

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
3 (12-ounce) tins peeled cherry tomatoes

Pour enough oil into a saucepan to cover the surface. Add garlic and 3 tins of tomatoes, mashing them slightly. Boil the sauce for 5 minutes and simmer for another 3 minutes.

Serving suggestion:
Serve with steamed broccoli.

Note:
I find that tinned tomatoes are better for a sauce that needs cooking for a long time. Fresh tomatoes are good if one is not cooking them for a long time.