simona's Handcrafted polpette Recipe

calabria, italy

serves 6 amici

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 Onion - diced 

• 3 Bay Leaves

• 1 Stalk Celery - shredded

• 1 Carrot - shredded

• 2 lbs 10 oz  of Whole Peeled Tomatoes

• 1/2 lb Ground Beef

• 2 Sprigs Parsley

• 1/2 Handful Breadcrumbs

• 1 Handful Finely-Grated Hard Sheep's Cheese, like Pecorino Romano 

• 1 Eggs

Tomato sauce:

• In a deep sauce pan add 1 Tbsp of olive oil, 1 diced onion, 3 bay leaves, 1 shredded stalk of celery, and one shredded carrot. Place the pot over medium-high heat, occasionally stirring. This is your soffritto. 

• Once the onion is transparent, crush the tomatoes and add them and a pinch of salt to the soffritto.

• When the sauce begins to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer and stir occasionally. After 15 minutes of simmering, cover the sauce and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes (sauce should still be at a simmer). Salt to taste. 

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Meatballs:

• In a mixing bowl add the ground beef, 2 eggs, 2 sprigs of parsley, pinch of salt, one handful of bread crumbs, and one handful of pecorino.

• Mix using your hands until all of the ingredients are even throughout.

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combining the sauce and Meatballs:

• After 45 minutes of cooking the sauce, add a ladle of the sauce ( ~ 1 cup) to the meatballs and incorporate the sauce into the meat.

• Using your hands, shape the meatballs by rolling a golfball size of meat into a ball.

• Once formed plop the meatballs into the sauce, cover the pot and cook over medium heat. 

Made with Love Tip: Because the meatballs are very fragile, do not mix them with a cooking utensil, instead mix the pot by shaking it back and forth. 

• Allow the meatballs to stew in the sauce for 1 hour before serving. 

Made with Love Tip: Cut one of the meatballs in half to ensure that the meat is cooked in the center.

• Enjoy Simona's Meatballs, Made with Love.