Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Now thatsa meatball!

These meatballs were UNBELIEVABLE! Best yet! When Tyler Florence called these the ultimate,  I have to agree! I rolled the meatballs in fresh bread crumbs. There's always burger and hot dog buns left over, so I whizz them in the food processor and then throw them in a ziploc bag and freeze it, no waste. I always have fresh crumbs handy. Frying the meatballs with the crumbs gave it a nice crust. Then I threw them in the pot with the sauce. I used perlini (little pearls) mozzarella balls. They're really cute, very teeny, tiny balls of fresh mozzarella in water.  The family is not big on cheese, so the recipe called for Buffalo mozzarella. Telling them the cheese comes from Buffalo wouldn't work, they wouldn't go for cheese from a Water Buffalo. I would. It's very good! But my cheese wimps can be picky, so I didn't chance it.

Perlini (little pearls) mozzarella balls
 




Mozzarella-stuffed Meatballs


Meatballs (Polpette Napoletane)
Source: Tyler's Ultimate, Food Network and Cooking Channel - recipe courtesy Baroness Cecilia Bellelli
adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
Printable Recipe

3 slices stale bread, crusts removed
1 cup milk
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, you can use a mix of pork and beef
3 eggs
2 ounces pecorino, grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 buffalo mozzarella, drained and chopped into little pieces (I used pearlini , little round tiny pieces of fresh mozzarella in water!)
Unseasoned bread crumbs
Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying
Tomato sauce, jar or homemade

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 simmer on low heat for about an hour or more.

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Extreme Personal Measures

 
 
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31 comments:

  1. Yum! Great idea for leftover buns. I always have leftover hot dog buns.

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  2. It looks good...and I just had spaghetti for dinner! These meatballs look so cheesy..YUM! ♥

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  3. LOL - looks good..I takr it the family liked it as well, as long as it wasn't cheese from a buffalo!!

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  4. Well now, that last pic certainly caught my attention! Oh Yum!!! Love the left over bun tip too-enjoy:@)

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  5. I have Buffalo mozzerella in the fridge, so I know what I will be making! Looks and sounds wonderful!

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  6. A delicious meatball with a wonderful surprise filling! I bet they were all gobbled up before the pasta. :) How can your family not like cheese? we LOVE cheese!

    PS: Neil's buttermilk biscuits are the same as Lundy's original recipe. As soon as I tasted them I was a little girl back in the 60's. Watch the videos -- he gives lots of good tips.

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  7. OMG, Carol, those meatballs look fantastic! I love meatballs and these look like some that I would really like. And, Tyler's Ultimate- are always well done. Very nice. I'll have to process and freeze some leftover hamburger and hot dog buns- great idea. :)

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  8. I knew you were going to share something yummy with those cute little mozzarella balls; but, you outdid yourself with that one. Yum!

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  9. Meatballs with mozzarella in the center, how delicious! I hardly ever make meatballs, I need to give these a try!

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  10. I bet these are amazing:) Yum. Thanks for linking up.

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  11. You really had us going with your teensy weensy mozzarella pearls, Carol! Now to find them because this looks super yummy! The mozzarella in France was also packed in water but didn't have much taste. Believe it or not, my French friends used Gruyere in their lasagna layered with white sauce as well as bolognese! Sounds sort of weird, but it was good! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  12. Oh, looks fantastic! I need to look for some mozzarella pearls!

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  13. So that's what the tiny things were! The meatballs sound delicious.

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  14. Do those look good or what? What a terrific recipe. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  15. yumm, looks delicious! they were mozzarella!!!

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  16. My kids would love these! They look delicious. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. What a nice surprise to open the meatball that's covered with sauce and find Mozzarella! They must taste so good.
    ~Judy

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  18. Oh goodness...these meatballs will make me crazy until I get to make and eat them. Mouthwatering!

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  19. Cheesy meatballs, I want some!

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  20. Brilliant! I want some for lunch right now!

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  21. We love those baby mozzarella balls! What a fabulous idea to surround them with meatballs. Leave it to Tyler and his ultimates. They really ARE!

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  22. What a great idea, I'd never have thought to put a little mozarella ball inside a meatball! I'm going to have to try that :).

    -----------------------------------
    My photography is available for purchase - visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

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  23. Your meatballs look great. And you know that I have to work around a picky eater of my own!

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  24. They look delicious! Mike is the meatball maker here, I don't want to steal his job! :)

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  25. Beautiful and just feels like I want some.
    Cruise Picture

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  26. Hmmm, tasty! I miss my pasta, since trying to be on low carbs.

    The melting cheese, the stickiness of it, is so tempting. Divinely delicious!

    I will just satisfy my "drooling" looking at your photos!

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  27. I love that these little pearls are added into the meatballs. I have enjoyed reading your blog so far!!!

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  28. Yum, yum, yum! Love the idea of stuffing with the mozzarella! Have you ever tried the marinated version? Picked some up at WF couple weeks ago.

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  29. Ooh yum! I love my meatball recipe, but I'll def be trying this stuffing technique.

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  30. Both of your meatball links are great. thank you. Have a lovely week.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. They are fun to read and very much appreciated! Sorry for comment moderation, the spam has been overwhelming lately.

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