“The secret of my mother’s meatballs is very simple – always use two types of mincemeat for texture and flavour (in this case pork and beef) and keep the tomato sauce simple, so you can appreciate the flavour of the meatballs,” explains TV chef Gino D’Acampo.
“She also used to bake the meatballs before simmering them in the tomato sauce rather than frying them, as is often the case. Always use fresh breadcrumbs rather than dried or toasted, or the meatballs will be tough and chewy.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He recommends serving these guys with plenty of warm crusty bread to mop up all of the sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 997
Calories from Fat 594
% Daily Value*
Fat 66g102%
Saturated Fat 23g144%
Cholesterol 242mg81%
Sodium 1171mg51%
Potassium 1843mg53%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 55g110%
Vitamin A 1955IU39%
Vitamin C 44mg53%
Calcium 511mg51%
Iron 11mg61%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Meatballs
This is one family recipe you’ll want to adopt as your own
Servings: 4
Calories: 997kcal
Equipment
- Large baking sheet
- Large saucepan
Ingredients
- olive oil for greasing
- 400 g minced pork
- 400 g minced beef
- 150 g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
- 5 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 100 g freshly grated Grana Padano cheese
- 2 medium eggs lightly beaten
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce
- 800 g chopped tomatoes
- 690 ml passata (sieved tomatoes)
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 10 fresh basil leaves plus extra to garnish
- salt to season
Method
- Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7. Grease a large baking sheet with oil and set aside. Place the pork, beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, Grana Padano and eggs in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix with your hands until everything is thoroughly combined.
- Using dampened hands, take small amounts of the meat mixture and roll into 12 equal-sized balls. Place the balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. Put the tomatoes, passata and oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the chilli flakes, basil and some salt. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, partially cover the pan and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Carefully place the meatballs in the tomato sauce and partially cover the pan again. Simmer for 30 minutes, turning the meatballs occasionally. If the sauce gets too thick, add a little hot water. To serve, scatter over a few basil leaves.
Nutrition
Calories: 997kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 66g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 242mg | Sodium: 1171mg | Potassium: 1843mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1955IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 511mg | Iron: 11mg
Gino’s Italy Coastal Escape: A taste Of Italy From The Aeolian Islands To Elba, by Gino D’Acampo, is published by Hodder & Stoughton.
You may also be interested in…
Best-selling meatball makers
Stuck for inspiration? Check out our list of best-selling Amazon products!
Bestseller No. 1
metagio 2 Packs None-Stick Meat Baller, Stainless Steel Meatball Maker with Detachable Anti-Slip...
- High Quality Material: Our meat ballers is made from 304 food grade stainless steel, which is non-toxic and durable,lasting for a long service time. Our meat baller tongs with the detachable rubber...
- Perfect Design: There are two size: 1.38in & 1.89in, it also designed with long handle which can reduce the pressure of your hand. It also can be a nice gift for your family members who are...
- Wide Application: Our meatball maker perfect for meat baller tongs for pasta, salad, BBQ, appetizers, pastries, brownies, cookies, cake bites, melon baller etc. Also used as cake pop, ice tongs,...
£8.98
Buy on AmazonBestseller No. 2
EEYZD Electric Commercial Meatball Forming Machine Maker Stainless Steel 280pcs/min,16/18/22/26mm...
- 1. Ultra-high output: The fully automatic meatball forming machine is equipped with an 1100W pure copper motor, allowing the machine to produce 280 meatballs per minute, breaking through the limits of...
- 2. Adjustable meatball size: The meatball forming machine is equipped with 4 molds of different sizes, and the machine can make meatballs with a diameter of 16/18/22/26MM. The model is made of pure...
- 3. One-button switch operation: Equipped with four casters to facilitate the movement of the machine; a water basin can be placed on the workbench, and the meatballs fall into the water tank to...
Bestseller No. 3
YJINGRUI Automatic Meatball Forming Machine 80W Automatic Meatball Maker 350ml for Making Small Meat...
- 80W:Glutinous rice ball fish ball maker’s power is 80W, forming model, high efficiency, an average of 3 balls per minute.
- Food grade material: ABS material, durable and wear-resistant, both safe and hygienic.
- Easy to clean: The meatball making machine is designed to be disassembled and washed after use, easy to install and convenient to disassemble, making cleaning easier.
£86.66
Buy on AmazonBestseller No. 4
Meatball Maker - None-Stick, 3-in-1 Meatball Spoon with Cutting Spade for Meatballs, Fish Balls, and...
- Triple Meatball Creation: Our Meatball Maker boasts a 3-spoon design, allowing you to form 3 meatballs at a time. Simply use the accompanying special card shovel to shape your meatballs and place them...
- User-Friendly Design: Make perfect meatballs in no time! Simply press the spoon with the small shovel into the minced meat to form the meatballs. This design allows for easy portion control and cuts...
- Non-Stick Material: Our Meatball Maker is crafted from high-quality PP material featuring a smooth, non-stick surface. This ensures easy cleaning and allows you to form the perfect meatballs without...
£4.59
Buy on AmazonBestseller No. 5
Triple Meatball Maker with Cutting Spade, Multifunctional Meatball Scoop Maker Creative Stainless...
- Product Contents: You will receive 1 piece of triple meatball maker with 1 cutting spade, which can make 2 or 3 perfectly shaped meatballs at a time to improve your meatball making efficiency.
- Premium Material: Our meatball maker is made of 304 stainless steel, smooth to the touch, not easy to break or deform, strong and reliable, can be used for a long time.
- Product Size: The meatball maker measures about 24x11cm/9.44x4.33in, the cutting spade is about 11.6x10.4cm/4.56x4.09in, suitable size for your use.
£12.59
Buy on AmazonLast update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.
ADVERTISEMENT
