Polpettone alla Toscano, or Easy Italian Meatballs Recipe
This easy Italian meatballs recipe is as authentic as they come, straight from a Tuscan grandma. Savory and succulent, you'll dream of them at night.
Course Entree
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10minutes
Cook Time 20minutes
Total Time 30minutes
Servings 2servings
Calories 1563kcal
Author Stephanie Stiavetti
Ingredients
1/4cupbreadcrumbs
1/2cupmilkat room temperature
1poundground beef
1/4poundprosciutto(or other bacon or cured pork), chopped fine
1largeeggbeaten
1teaspoonsalt
1/4cupfreshly chopped Italian parsley
1/4cupgrated Parmesan cheese(get the good stuff — trust me!)
1cupwhite flour or gluten-free flour mix
4tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
3tablespoongrated carrot
1/4cupfinely minced onion
1/4cupwhite wine
2cupstomato sauce
Parmesan cheesefor garnish
Instructions
Soak the breadcrumbs in milk for five minutes. Strains and squeeze to remove excess milk, then loosen crumbed and spread over a plate.
In a large bowl, mix together with the beef, prosciutto, salt, egg, parsley and Parmesan cheese. Mix well with your hands.
Moisten your hands with a little water and form the meat into 8 meatballs of the same size. Be sure to pack them well and not leave any openings, otherwise the meatballs will fall apart while cooking. Place the flour into a small bowl and roll the meatballs lightly in the flour until evenly coated.
In a large sauté pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Gently brown meatballs all over, allowing a nice, savory crust to form. Turn the heat to low.
To the pan add the carrot and onion. Cook gently just until the vegetables start to brown, then pour in white wine and tomato sauce. Allow to cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, nudging occasionally with a spatula to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Gently turn meatballs over, cover the pan, and finish cooking until they are cooked through, about 7 more minutes, again nudging to prevent sticking. If you like, you can remove the meatballs from the pan and continue cooking the sauce, uncovered, until it thickens.
Allow meatballs to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve meatballs hot, covered with tomato sauce and garnished with parmesan cheese. Also, feel free to serve these bad boys on a sandwich with a little provolone, which is most definitely Italian!