Author Notes
This is ridiculously hearty and is my daughter's favorite topping for pasta. And it makes the house smell delicious- if you're into that whole "house smelling like food and not a girly candle" sort of thing. —Smelky
Ingredients
-
1 pound
ground beef- I use 15/85.
-
1
egg
-
1/2 cup
heavy cream
-
1/3 cup
fresh, chopped basil
-
1/2 cup
Italian bread crumbs
-
1/4 cup
grated parmesan or romano cheese
-
1/3 cup
fresh, chopped parsley
-
1 tablespoon
capers
-
1
anchovy fillet
-
2
cloves of garlic
-
1/3 cup
chopped sweet onion
-
2-3 tablespoons
EEVO
-
1/4-1/3 cups
fresh mozzerella cheese
-
1-2 pinches
S and P
Directions
-
In a medium pan, heat up your EEVO on medium-high heat. When hot, add chopped garlic and onions. Saute until golden. turn heat to medium and add anchovy fillet and capers. Smush the capers with the back of a spoon and stir and cook until anchovy is dissolved into the lusciousness of the onions and garlic. (do not eat all of this now- you will want to- but just exhibit a wee bit of self-control.)
-
Spoon the onion mixture into a bowl to cool.
-
In a mixing bowl, add your ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, cream, fresh basil, fresh parsley, and parmesan cheese. When onion mixture is fairly cool, add to ground beef. Season with S and P. Mix well.
-
Shape beef mixture into smallish patties in the palm of your hand. In the middle, place a small piece of fresh mozzarella cheese. Fold the rest of the patty over the mozzarella to cover it completely and form a fabulous meatball. Set aside and do the same with the rest of the mixture until you have used it all.
-
Return the same pan that you prepared the onions and garlic, to medium heat. If necessary, add a little more EEVO. When the pan is hot, add your meatballs. You have to stay with them during this part, and turn them, so that all sides get to a lovely, medium brown, sealing in the cheese and moisture. Once all side are brown, turn heat off.
-
Preheat oven to 350.
-
Place meatballs on a baking sheet and finish in the oven at 350 for about 15 or so minutes.
-
Serve meatballs hot, with your favorite sauce or in a sandwich.
See what other Food52ers are saying.