As I’m preparing these meatballs in my kitchen, the smell, the sounds and the taste bring me back to my childhood. I am enjoying these food related memories! There is the fresh, green scent of parsley, the strong nutty aroma of parmigiano cheese, the strong garlic smell and then the sounds of the cheese grater, which my mother uses to grate both her cheese and day old bread, then the sizzle as the meatballs hit the oil in the skillet and finally the bubbling sound of the meatballs submerged in the tomato sauce. These were the smells and sounds of a typical Sunday morning in our home. These are truly the best Italian meatballs!
There’s nothing like my mother’s meatballs. In fact her meatballs don’t contain much meat in them at all, which makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Back in Sicily when she was growing up, meat was quite scarce to come by and whatever little meat they had was stretched by using lots of bread. They also made a meatless version which my mother still makes today and I totally love! Most meatballs are made with dried breadcrumbs whereas these contain the shredded crumb from day old bread. The result is the softest, moist, and cheesiest meatballs you’ve ever tasted and it was high time I shared this recipe!
You’ll notice that I mentioned the sizzling sound of the meatballs frying but in my recipe I bake them. Back in the old days my mother always fried the meatballs before adding them to the sauce. She always fried a few tiny meatballs and set them aside for us in a bowl to nibble on as she finished preparing, because she knew that we could not resist until lunch time. Interestingly enough, my kids also recall those little meatballs even though they haven’t been present when she prepares them in a long time. So, I knew that when planning this post I had to fry some up for them! But alas, times have changed and we are all more health conscious, my mother included. Now we bake the meatballs before adding them to the sauce but they still have the same flavor and texture once they’ve simmered in the sauce.
Something else that is unique about her meatballs is that they are not round but rather oval shaped and slightly flattened. I’m not sure why but I’m guessing that when frying or baking the flatter surfaces brown more evenly. Either way, I’m partial to this shape and have never, nor will I ever make a round meatball!
Whichever way you shape them, I hope you give my mother’s recipe a try and let me know if you agree that these are the best meatballs. Buon appetito!
Ingredients
For the tomato sauce:
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 jar tomato passata 720 ml
- salt and pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes optional
For the meatballs:
- 4 cups bread crumbs from day old bread
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 450 g combined ground veal beef and pork
- 1 1/4 cups grated combined Parmigiano and Romano cheeses
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pepper
Instructions
- For the tomato sauce: In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil on medium heat, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, add garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes before pouring in the tomato purée. Pour about a cup of water in the jar to rinse out remaining sauce and add to the sauce pan. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and red pepper flakes(if using)and bring to a simmer before adding the meatballs.
- For the meatballs: Place the bread crumbs in a medium sized bowl, pour milk over them and toss to combine. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350F and prepare 2 baking sheets by covering with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the ground meat, cheese, parsley, garlic, eggs, olive oil, salt and pepper. Squeeze excess milk from the bread crumbs and add to the meat mixture. Use your hands to combine all the ingredients. Shape into approximately 32 meatballs and place on prepared pans.
- Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway. Drop into the prepared tomato sauce and simmer for an hour.
- Remove meatballs from the sauce when ready to serve and combine tomato sauce with your favourite pasta. Serve with plenty of grated Parmigiano.
Nutrition
Hi Nadia, I enjoyed this meatball recipe and I added raisins and almonds. Love the name of your website. When I was born(1947) my mum was 40, Dad 50 and 3 sisters 15,17 and 20. I was “figgu beddu “
Hello John or figghittu beddu! I too have often been called figghitta bedda by relatives! My nonna often repeated the words ‘mangia bedda’ when I was young cause apparently I did not want to eat back then. Things have certainly changed! I love your idea of adding raisins and almonds to meatballs, such a Sicilian thing to do. I’ve got to try that as well. Thanks for your comment!
My great grandmother was Sicilian and I too will never make a round meatball after growing up with her oval ones.
Hello Robin, a few other readers have also shared this with me. So I guess it’s a Sicilian thing after all! Thanks for taking the time to share this with me!
I love your traditional recipes! My family is from Calabria and our recipes are very very similar. “Mangia Bedda” is a phrase I heard often as well when I was younger. Mine was “Mangia Bedda, che ti fa rane” “Eat pretty one, you will get big” We also made our meatballs in an oval shape. I still do. My dear mother called them “pulpette” Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes.
Hi Rosina, yes indeed we do have several recipes and words in our dialect that are similar. After all Calabria is not very far away! And we also say “mangia chi ti fai rani!” In our dialect the meatballs are “prupetti”. Thank you for reaching out to me!
I love that you mentioned the shape. My grandmother’s pulpette were also flat and oval shaped…even moreso than your picture. They were the best meatballs…melt in your mouth. I’ve never tries to recreate them, but I might have to try.
Hi Lucy, growing up this was the only meatball shape I was familiar with so I can’t even fathom making perfectly round ones! And yes they are melt in your mouth thanks to the breadcrumbs of day old bread and lots of cheese. Simply the best! Thanks for your comment!
WHAT IS 450 GRAMS OF GROUND MEAT IN POUNDS?
Hello Elizabeth, 450 grams is 1 pound. Thanks for stopping by my blog and hope you enjoy the meatballs!