Toasted Orecchiette With Veal Meatballs Recipes

ORECCHIETTE WITH TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Cook pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium-sized saute pan, heat the oil until warm. Since the bread crumbs will cook quickly, you don't want to add them into a hot pan, otherwise they can burn. Add the breadcrumbs and stir constantly. Season lightly with salt and pepper since flavored bread crumbs may already have seasoning. Saute for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Working quickly, add pasta to the saute pan and stir to combine. Add Parmesan and the chopped prosciutto. Mix thoroughly. Pour into large serving bowl and garnish with chopped parsley.

ORECCHIETTE WITH MINI CHICKEN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, and the salt and pepper. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine.
• Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure), form the chicken mixture into 3/4-inch pieces. With damp hands, roll the chicken pieces into mini meatballs.
• In a large (14-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and brown the other side, about 2 minutes longer. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tomatoes are soft and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl and add the Parmesan. Toss to lightly coat orecchiette, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Add the meatball mixture, mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of the basil. Gently toss to combine. Garnish with the chopped basil.

TOASTED ORECCHIETTE WITH VEAL MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Pulse bacon in a food processor, scraping down sides as needed, until very finely chopped, about 1 minute; transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer and wipe out food processor. Add veal and pork to bacon and mix with your hands to combine.
• Pulse whole garlic cloves and half of onion in food processor until finely chopped. Add one-fourth of meat mixture along with breadcrumbs, milk, coriander, red pepper flakes, allspice, paprika, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper and process until well blended, about 1 minute. Transfer to bowl with remaining meat mixture. Mix briefly on low speed with paddle attachment until uniform in texture, about 1 minute.
• Working one at a time, form mixture into golf ball-size portions (about 3-tablespoonfuls each); roll between your palms, pressing lightly to compact.
• Place meatballs in a broilproof 11x9" baking dish; pour broth over. Cook until meatballs are firm to the touch, 18-20 minutes. Heat broiler. Broil meatballs until browned, about 1 minute.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and toss in a medium bowl with 1 Tbsp. oil.
• Meanwhile, thinly slice remaining onion half. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Cook mushrooms, half of sliced onion, and half of chopped garlic, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and beginning to crisp around the edges, about 5 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Transfer mushroom mixture to a plate.
• Wipe out skillet. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil over medium and cook kale and remaining onion and chopped garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender but not limp, about 4 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to plate with mushroom mixture.
• Wipe out skillet again and heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil over medium-high. Cook pasta undisturbed 1 minute (you want it to fry in the oil, resulting in lovely crisp edges); toss pasta. Repeat process several times until pasta is well-crisped.
• Add sliced garlic and mushroom-kale mixture to pasta; season with black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer pasta to a large bowl. Arrange meatballs on top of pasta and ladle hot cooking liquid over. Top with Parmesan.
• Meatballs can be formed 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.