Freezable Neapolitan Meatballs Recipes

MOM'S MEATBALLS WITH NEAPOLITAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the meat sauce: Sear small batches of the beef, pork and sausage in olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, and then remove from the pot. After all the meat is seared, deglaze with the red wine and add the onion. Cook until transparent. Add tomatoes to the pot. Add meat to the pot. Add the chile flakes, salt and pepper. Simmer on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 hours.
• For the meatballs: While the sauce is simmering, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Soak the bread in the milk.
• Squeeze the milk from the bread after soaking. Mix the ground chuck, pecorino, ground pork, bread, onion, parsley, basil, garlic and eggs together by hand in a large bowl.
• Roll the meatballs loosely about two times the size of a golf ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Place into the oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Add meatballs to the sauce and braise until tender. Serve hot.

FREEZABLE NEAPOLITAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• 1.Place bulgur in a medium bowl and cover generously with hot water. Let soak for 30 minutes. Drain in a fine sieve, pressing to remove excess liquid. 2.Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add garlic, oregano and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Stir in canned tomatoes and plum tomatoes; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover and let simmer while you prepare meatballs. 3.Place bread in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for a few minutes. Drain and squeeze out moisture. 4.Whisk egg and egg white in a large bowl. Add the bulgur, the bread, beef, Parmesan, cinnamon, pepper and salt. Gently combine with a potato masher and/or your hands. Form into 20 oval meatballs about 2 inches long. 5.Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; blot with paper towels. Brown the remaining meatballs. 6.Mash the simmering tomato sauce with a potato masher to break down any large chunks of tomato. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer over low heat, partially covered, for 50 minutes. 7.Taste the sauce and add sugar, if it seems tart, and additional pepper to taste. Serve the meatballs with the sauce. Tips & Notes Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Ingredient note: Bulgur is made by parboiling, drying and coarsely grinding or cracking wheat berries. It simply needs a quick soak in hot water for most uses. Look for it in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets, near other grains, or online at kalustyans.com, lebaneseproducts.com.

POLPETTE ALLA NAPOLETANA (NEAPOLITAN MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, soak the bread cubes in water to cover for a minute or two.
• Drain the bread cubes and squeeze with your fingers to press out the excess moisture (make sure you do this well).
• In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, beef, eggs, garlic, pecorino, parsley, toasted pine nuts, salt and pepper, and mix with your hands to incorporate.
• With wet hands, form the mixture into 12-15 meatballs, each smaller than a tennis ball, but larer than a golf ball.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until almost smoking.
• Add the meatballs and, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan, cook until deep golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce and reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Cook all the meatballs for 30 minutes.
• Set aside and allow to cool; save the sauce for another use.

MAKE-AHEAD MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls, about 12 dozen. , Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. Bake at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often; drain. Cool. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Reheat on a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until heated through.,

MEATBALL NIRVANA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the beef into a mixing bowl, and season with salt, onion, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Add the milk, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs. Mix until evenly blended, then form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, and place onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.