Meatballs Emilia-Romagna with Pasta Sheets
Pasta sheet, red wine, carrot, parsley, prosciutto, rosemary, bay leaf, egg, celery, garlic, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, ground short ribs, cream and double-concentrated tomato paste.
thirschfeld has you grate the onion and garlic on a Microplane zester (if you don't have one, use any that you do have), which releases their juices and flavor into the meatballs.
After adding the garlic and onion to the breadcrumbs, you moisten it all with milk.
Measuring the ground short ribs -- isn't it a gorgeous rich red?
More grating! This time parmesan cheese.
Adding the meat, cheese and egg to the breadcrumb mixture.
It's best to mix it by hand so you can feel whether or not everything has been incorporated, and you can make sure it's not overmixed.
Allie steps in to help Amanda season.
Gently rolling the meatballs.
After shaping, the meatballs go right into the saute pan.
Aren't they handsome little buggers?
After the meatballs are browned, you pour off the fat, add more olive oil and then crisp prosciutto in the oil.
Next go the aromatics -- carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf.
Then wine!
After the wine is cooked down, you add broth, tomato paste (we love this packaging!), and rosemary -- and cook it down some more.
In goes the milk.....
and cream.
A quick stir.
Then it's oven bound, with the browned meatballs, which finish cooking here.
Time to plate up!
Layering the pasta sheet -- super fun.
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Author Notes: Although I have never been, I have been fascinated with this region of Italy ever since I first tasted tagliatelle with a game ragu. I like the richness of the food and yet it never seems overly heavy and filling. I think it has to do with the restraint and balance of the rich and decadent foods they use. I chose to use ground short ribs for the base of the meatball for several reasons. One they stay moist because of the fat content, two I also caramelize the meatballs because that is one of the great things about short ribs is how rich they become after browning. I also grate the onion and garlic on a micro plane so it permeates the bread crumb and milk panade and then the entire meatball. If you make these meatballs hours ahead of time and put them in the fridge when you go to roll them they will seem like they are not going to bind together. As you work them in your hands the heat of your hands will soften the fat and the will come together nicely. - thirschfeld - thirschfeld
Food52 Review: This recipe is a marathon, but you’ll have a runner’s high by the time you brown the meatballs and start smelling the goodness to come. Do all your prep work first because once that’s done, the recipe is a snap. You mix and shape the meatballs -- which are made with succulent ground short rib meat -- and after browning them in a pan, you use the pan drippings as the base for a rich Bolognese-like sauce. The pasta sheets are a great touch – a way to make impromptu, loosely-formed lasagna without all the counting of layers and baking. Thirschfeld really channeled his inner nonna on this one. – A&M - A&M
Serves 4, with enough meatball mix to test for seasoning
- 1 1/2 pound short rib meat, sinew removed and ground, you butcher can do this for you too.
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, grated on a micro plane
- 1 tablespoon yellow onion, grated on a micro plane
- 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan reggiano, grated
- 1 egg
- kosher salt and black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup yellow onion, small dice
- 3/4 cups carrots, small dice
- 3/4 cups celery, small dice
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- 2 thin slices of prosciutto, diced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 cups beef stock or chicken stock
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, about 6 inches long
- 1 1/2 tablespoon double concentrate tomato paste
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 4 each, 12 inch long fresh pasta sheets, or DeCecco lasagna sheets
- Combine the bread crumbs, milk, grated garlic and grated onions in a bowl and mix to combine. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Combine the beef, egg, parmesan and parsley with the bread crumb mixture and mix very well. ( I used the paddle attachment on my mixer.) Season with a half a teaspoon of salt and a few turns of fresh ground pepper. Make a walnut sized meatball. Place a small saute pan over medium heat. Add some oil and saute the meatball until it is done. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Keep in mind the garlic and onion will grow stronger as the mix sets so you are really only tasting for salt. Place them in the fridge while you cut you veggies.
- Roll the meatballs making them golf ball size. I used a #20 scoop.Heat a large 14 inch non stick skillet over medium high heat. These meatballs start out very tender but firm up as the fat is rendered. Add a couple of glugs of olive oil and gently add the meatballs and brown them on all sides. Remove them to a sheet tray with sides when they are finished browning.
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Empty out the grease and put the pan back on the heat. Add a glug or two of olive oil and add the prosciutto. Once the prosciutto is crisp add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Saute until they begin to soften but don't brown. Add the garlic.
- Once you smell the garlic add the wine, tomato paste and the bay leaves. Reduce the wine to a glaze and then add the stock and rosemary sprig. Reduce the liquid by half. Add the milk and cream. Let it come to a boil and then then place the pan into the oven.
- Slide the meatballs into the oven too. Set a timer for 16 minutes.
- About 4 minutes before the timer goes off drop the noodles into the pot of boiling water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.(if you are not using fresh pasta start to cook it according to the time on the box and plan to have it done at the same time as the ragu) Remove the pasta and let it drain. Remove the sauce and meatballs from the oven. Remove the bay leaves and rosemary sprig from the sauce. The sauce should not be thick but should be reduced.
- To plate hold the end of a noodle with a clean towel. Place about a tablespoon of sauce between each layer as you bunch it on the plate. Place three meatballs on top drizzle with some ragu and grate more cheese over the top and serve.
- Your Best Meatballs Contest Winner!
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15 days ago tREX
I really loved these meatballs. The sauce was awesome too, however, I did take a bit of liberty to appease my red sauce loving family and added one can of crushed tomatoes before putting it in the oven. It has a lovely depth of flavor and a more traditional look. Next time, I'll follow to the letter, but this is a definite crowd pleaser. Also, I doubled everything for a larger family party w/out any issues.
4 months ago The Fiery Epicurean
I have successfully made several of the dishes Thirschfeld has published on Food52 and have been pleased with his recipes, except for this one. I wasn't completely satisfied with the results, thought something was lacking. I followed the directions to a T and completed all my prep before I actually began cooking (this is a must for this recipe to be successful). In the ingredient list it states tomato paste but then in the directions it refers to tomato sauce and I was like what, I didn't buy sauce! So I was confused there, but went ahead and used tomato paste. I think the meatballs could use a little more spice as they are just your basic meatball that uses short rib meat instead of ground chuck. And lastly, I think the biggest problem I had was with the sauce. Where's the tomatoes? The sauce resembled muddy thicken water because of the wine and the beef broth and it didn't look that appealing to the eye. Sorry to be so harsh, but I was excepting more.
4 months ago thirschfeld
Not harsh at all Fiery. I have always maintained and will continue too that food is best tailored to your own likes and wants. That said the sauce is a very traditional Emilia-Romagna ragu as opposed to the typical, albeit delicous, Italian American tomato sauce. It also sounds like you might have needed to reduce the sauce more but anyway, sorry it didn't work for you I have always enjoyed it and simply posted it in hopes others would too.
5 months ago Dougin
A newbie to 52 and this is the first recipe I've made from this site. This was unbelievably amazing!!!!! Worth every minute it took to create one of the best dishes I've ever ate!!!! Thank you so much for this recipe. I look forward to trying your other recipes.
11 months ago BavarianCook
This is amazing! I came home today with good quality ground beef intending to make meatballs and then found this recipe here. So although my meat was different, the remaining ingredients were the same and it was delicious. Mille grazie!
over 1 year ago letsfeast
Made this last week and it was absolutely delicious! The meatballs were so tender and flavourful and the sauce really rustic .. fantastic.
over 1 year ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
We made this in class on Thursday with shortribs, but skipped the meatball step. We served it over handmade pasta sheets - it was the students' first experience with handcutting pasta. To say it was all heavenly doesn't begin to do it justice. It was downright divine.
almost 2 years ago ellent124
Sounds lovely--we always use romano in meatballs--like Grandma did--parm just isn't right. Have you tried that? Do you think the romano is too much with the rich short rib meat? Plan to try when my kids are home on a visit.
about 2 years ago bugbitten
I drove through Emilia-Romania quite a while (twenty years) ago. Easy to go back: Milano, rent-a-car, Modena, Parma, Bologna, then Ferrara, which has the nicest hotel in the region. For some reason, the best food in Italy is here. Best ham outside of Barcelona. Sante!
about 2 years ago casa-giardino
Personally, I would omit the cream and the tomato paste.
over 2 years ago tomo'
Wonderful - amazing worth the work! Thank you!
over 2 years ago mcs3000
Yes, please!
over 2 years ago mariaraynal
I've been meaning to comment on this recipe for months...it sounds utterly heavenly and is on my to-make list.
over 2 years ago Victoria Carr
Microplane makes a grater called medium ribbon grater. It grates in both directions so is excellent when you want to grate onions. I always use it when I make meatballs as I don't want any perceptible pieces in them.
I haven't made this yet, but it's printed out to make over this long Columbus Day Weekend.
over 2 years ago beckycarpenter
A little confused here...first make the meatballs (walnuts) and saute them and then RE-make them (golf balls) and cook them again?
(Forgive my cluelessness - I'm the graphic designer for the site and not really a cook.)
Can't wait for this wonderful-sounding meal!
over 2 years ago lastnightsdinner
I think that's to test the meat mixture for seasoning :)
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
yes, LND is correct the walnut size piece is to cook and taste, before you make all of them, so you can see if you want to add more salt or not. When you make all the meatballs you want to make them golfball size. Which in reality, I guess it depends on whether that walnut is a green walnut or a walnut with just the shell. Sorry. You want to cook a small amount and then taste it to see if you need more seasoning. Sorry for the confusion and it is a great question.
over 2 years ago katydids
Outrageous! YUMMERS!
over 2 years ago Chelseabell
These look great!
over 2 years ago dymnyno
I made this again yesterday while I was really into my sport cooking mode. ( I was also making lunch for 8.) I made everything and then refrigerated. An hour before dinner I put the sauce in a dutch oven and then the meatballs and left it in a 250 oven until dinner. The braised meatballs in sauce over pasta sheets were fabulous...without running a marathon!
over 2 years ago pierino
pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love.
This dish I hope will be remembered as Mr. T's food52 legacy. It is so cool, and so smart, and at the same time true to the source. Another bravo!
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
thanks dymnyno.
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
pierino thanks, I would take that legacy but I also hope I have a few more in me.
over 2 years ago Oui, Chef
Just checking back into things here after a summer of travel, and happy to see that you haven't lost your touch. This dish looks incredible, Tom....congrats on your win! - S
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
Thanks Oui, I have been enjoying your blog, I am a big fan of Guiness too, but we have been missing you recipes around here. Hope you had great travels.
over 2 years ago Lizthechef
too tired to check, but September issue of "BA" features a short rib lasagne that doesn't touch yours - probably way ahead of me.
over 2 years ago dymnyno
Just finished making this for dinner....aroma and flavors are fabulous!!