Florentine Meatballs Recipes

FLORENTINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 32 balls., Place meatballs on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 24-28 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain on paper towels., Save half of the meatballs for Italian Stroganoff (recipe also in Recipe Finder) or save for another use. In a large saucepan, heat spaghetti sauce; add the remaining meatballs. Serve with spaghetti.

FLORENTINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Wring defrosted spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel.
• Place turkey in a bowl and make a well in the middle of it.
• Add the spinach, onion, garlic, 1 large egg, about 1/4 cup milk, bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form into 12 large balls and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange on a nonstick cookie sheet and roast 20 to 25 minutes (depending on your oven).
• Top with alfredo sauce.

FLORENTINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400.
• Wring the defrosted spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel. Place the turkey in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Add the spinach, all but 3 tablespoons of the onions, all the garlic, the egg, about ¼ cup of the milk, the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Form into 12 large balls and drizzle with oil. Arrange on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. (If you are doing OAMC, allow to cool and label and freeze at this point).
• While the meatballs are in the oven, heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil and the butter. When the butter is melted, add the reserved onions and cook for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the remaining milk and the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and then stir in the shredded cheese. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg; turn the heat to the lowest setting and stir until the cheese melts. Keep warm.
• Place 3 meatballs on each dinner plate and top with sauce.

FLORENTINE MAC AND CHEESE AND ROAST CHICKEN SAUSAGE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place a large pot of water on to boil for pasta. When it comes to a boil, salt it and add the pasta to cook to al dente. Strain pasta reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
• While the water is coming to a boil, in a large mixing bowl combine the chicken, salt and pepper, rosemary, fennel seeds, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano - a rounded handful, egg and bread crumbs. *If the mixture seems too wet, add a handful of bread crumbs and mix together.
• Form 8 large round balls, about 3 to 4-inches. Coat balls in a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and lightly grease a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange balls on the baking sheet and roast 17 to 18 minutes until juices run clear.
• Defrost spinach in microwave 8 to 10 minutes on "defrost" setting depending on the microwave. Place the boxes in a shallow dish to catch any run off.
• While the meatballs roast, in a medium sauce pot over medium heat, melt butter, whisk in flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in stock and milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and thicken 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup grated Parmigiano and reduce heat on lowest setting.
• Wring spinach completely dry in clean kitchen towel then separate as you add it to the sauce. Also add the reserved 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Toss pasta with the spinach-white sauce and adjust seasonings.
• Serve Florentine Mac-n-Cheese with 2 meatballs per person along side.

INSTANT POT® SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS FLORENTINE

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix turkey, bread crumbs, onion, egg, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Shape mixture into 12 (2-inch) meatballs.
• On 6-quart Instant Pot®, select SAUTE; adjust to normal. Heat oil in insert until very hot. Add meatballs; cook 4 to 5 minutes without moving, until meatballs release easily from bottom of insert. Turn; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until browned on second side. Turn one more time; cook 2 to 3 minutes on third side, until browned. Select CANCEL. Using slotted spoon or tongs, transfer meatballs to plate.
• Stir broth and whipping cream into meatball drippings in insert. Stir mixture to loosen browned bits from bottom of insert. Stir in spaghetti; coat in sauce mixture.
• Place meatballs evenly over spaghetti mixture. Secure lid; set pressure valve to SEALING. Select MANUAL; cook on high pressure 8 minutes. Select CANCEL. Set pressure valve to VENTING to quick-release pressure.
• Gently stir cream cheese and Parmesan cheese into mixture 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted and spaghetti is completely separated. Spaghetti will appear to be stuck together but will separate while stirring. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the spinach and lemon juice until spinach wilts. Top with additional Parmesan cheese.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble chicken over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls., Place meatballs on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash cut side down on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 15-18 minutes or until tender., For sauce, in a large nonstick skillet, saute mushrooms in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add meatballs and heat through., When squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to separate strands. Serve with meatballs and sauce. Freeze option: Place individual portions of cooled meatballs and squash in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.