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NFT: Meatballs

Bill in UT : 2/28/2021 8:03 pm
So me and djm were talking about meatballs on the St. Patrick's thread, but since they're not Irish, I'm starting this. I had said " I can't tell you how many recipes/techniques I've tried. I'm looking for something tender but that doesn't fall apart. I've deep fried, baked, pan fried, cooked only in sauce. Used different meat blends, bread, panko, grated cheese, raw and cooked onions. Today I'm trying a recipe from Milk Street for large Neapolitan meatballs with a good deal of bread in them. We'll see :)"

So I made the Neapolitan meatballs and sauce tonight. Loved it. I think it's now my go-to meatball recipe. I understand that not everyone is looking for the same thing in a meatball as I am. Anyway, here's the recipe.

Ingredients
4 TABLESPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, DIVIDED, PLUS MORE TO SERVE
1 LARGE YELLOW ONION, FINELY CHOPPED
KOSHER SALT AND GROUND BLACK PEPPER
6 MEDIUM GARLIC CLOVES, FINELY GRATED
11/2 TEASPOONS RED PEPPER FLAKES, DIVIDED
61/2 OUNCES (21/2 CUPS) PANKO BREADCRUMBS (OR 3 1/4 CUPS BREAD)
3 OUNCES PECORINO ROMANO CHEESE, 2 OUNCES FINELY GRATED (1 CUP), 1 OUNCE AS A CHUNK, PLUS MORE GRATED, TO SERVE
1 LARGE EGG, PLUS 1 LARGE EGG YOLK, BEATEN TOGETHER
11/2 POUNDS 90 PERCENT LEAN GROUND BEEF
2 28-OUNCE CANS WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES
6-8 LARGE BASIL LEAVES
Directions
Heat the oven to 475°F with a rack in the middle position. Line a rimmed baking sheet with kitchen parchment and mist with cooking spray. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, heat 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and 1 teaspoon pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pot from the heat, then transfer half of the onion mixture to a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, combine the panko and 1¼ cups water; press the panko into the water and let stand until fully softened, about 5 minutes. Mash with your hands to a smooth paste, then add to the bowl with the onion mixture. Using a fork, mix until well combined and smooth. Stir in the grated cheese, beaten eggs, the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, 1½ teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Add the meat and mix with your hands until completely homogenous.
Using a ½-cup dry measuring cup, divide the mixture into 8 portions. Using your hands, shape each into a compact ball and place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Refrigerate uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes. Re-shape the meatballs if they have flattened slightly, then bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet set on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
While the meatballs cook, in a food processor or blender, puree the tomatoes one can at a time with their juices until smooth, about 30 seconds, transferring the puree to a large bowl. Return the Dutch oven to medium and heat the remaining onion mixture, stirring, until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, remaining ½ teaspoon pepper flakes, the basil and the chunk of cheese. Bring to a simmer over medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Using a large spoon, carefully transfer the meatballs to the sauce, then, using 2 spoons, turn each to coat. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce to medium-low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand, covered, for about 5 minutes to allow the meatballs to firm up slightly. Remove and discard the pecorino chunk. Serve with additional grated cheese.
Tip: Don't be shy about mixing the panko-meat mixture with your hands. It takes a few minutes to work the mixture together until homogeneous. Your hands are the best tools for this. Don't bake the meatballs without first allowing them to chill for 15 to 20 minutes; this helps them hold their shape. And after baking, make sure to let the meatballs rest for about 10 minutes before adding them to the sauce; if the timing is off and the sauce is ready before the meatballs have rested, simply remove the pot from the heat and let it wait.

The bread you use will affect the moistness of the mix. I used a cheap white bread and cut off just the straight line crust. My mix seemed a little too wet for me, so I added 1/4 panko and another 4 oz. beef. I used a 1/2 cup measure for the meatballs, but it gave me 11, so I added a little to 8 meatballs and turned it into 9.
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I follow..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/1/2021 8:48 am : link
my Grandmother's recipe of using a mix of beef and pork and using crusty bread that has been left out overnight to harden.

Then to cook, we bake and then broil/fry. And they are golfball sized or slightly smaller.

My pet peeve is going to a place and getting a meatball that is the size of a softball. That's just circular meatloaf
Mine is pretty similar to most Italians  
aimrocky : 3/1/2021 8:49 am : link
Equal parts beef, veal and pork (I do a LB each when I cook them). I go lighter on the bread crumbs. I think it's about 1 cup. I'll add .5 cup of Romano/Parm blend. Probably a half cup of parsley then hit it with salt, black pepper and a dash of crushed red pepper & oregano.

My main differentiator is I go heavy handed on the red wine. I like the meatballs to be softer/moist, so I put enough red wine in until the meat feels like it's soft and nothing is sticking.
If you're looking for really tender...  
Southern Man : 3/1/2021 8:53 am : link
try a recipe that includes ricotta cheese in the mix, like the one linked here. We've been doing a variation on this the past couple of years and it turns out light, flavorful meatballs that do not fall apart
Meatballs with Ricotta - ( New Window )
RE: If you're looking for really tender...  
UConn4523 : 3/1/2021 8:55 am : link
In comment 15163944 Southern Man said:
Quote:
try a recipe that includes ricotta cheese in the mix, like the one linked here. We've been doing a variation on this the past couple of years and it turns out light, flavorful meatballs that do not fall apart Meatballs with Ricotta - ( New Window )


I do this as well.
I always use a panade rather than bread crumbs  
bigblue1124 : 3/1/2021 8:57 am : link
In both my meatballs and meatloaf. I believe it makes a far superior product and always stays moist and tender.

The meat selection is really just preference.

Mine I use ground chuck 80/20, Veal, Ground pork and make my own sausage with red chili, garlic, toasted ground fennel seeds, basil. I have always found it easier and cheaper for that matter making my own and seasoning the entire dish myself rather than adding a premade product like sausage.
I add basil, Italian parsley, garlic, oregano, parmesan cheese and ground Calabrian chili peppers (we like spicy food) S&P and 1 egg per pound of meat. Another key is don't over mix the meat I use a 12 qt mixing bowl just for these type things avoid using a kitchen aid or similar items that will beat it to death and turn into a pate.

I pan fry mine then add them to my sauce.
RE: If you're looking for really tender...  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 9:44 am : link
In comment 15163944 Southern Man said:
Quote:
try a recipe that includes ricotta cheese in the mix, like the one linked here. We've been doing a variation on this the past couple of years and it turns out light, flavorful meatballs that do not fall apart Meatballs with Ricotta - ( New Window )


Thanks, SM. Just went through my recipes and saw this one for chicken meatballs with ricotta from Michael Symon which I think I'll try soon. I believe you can do a substitution on the meat choice if you want, and don't have to use grill. Also found one from American Test Kitchens which uses gelatin, which should be moist also.
Link - ( New Window )
instead  
I Love Clams Casino : 3/1/2021 9:55 am : link
I add buttermilk soaked stale bread, and will add a cup of chicken broth that has Knox gelatin added....the gelatinous chicken broth is minced and then added......when cooked, your fork will fall through the meatball with no pressure they're so tender
RE: RE: Bill, that bread to meat ratio seems overdone.  
dlauster : 3/1/2021 10:27 am : link
In comment 15163874 Bill in UT said:
Quote:
In comment 15163871 BelieveJJ said:


Quote:


Maybe I just prefer a "meatier tasting" meatball, but most of the time I would prefer to moisten and mash my panade in a triple or quadruple reduced stock - or if bot available I'd make a way overly richbroth with the water and Better than Bullion beef stock paste concentrate.

Oddly enough, I just made meatballs (the meat, panade, and flavorings mix) last night and refrigerated overnight, and then formed the balls and baked them this morning. Totally different concept of meatballs, made from 93/7 ground turkey, for ultimately placement and simmering in a tagine of various root vegetables, squashes, and peas.

Since the ultimate dish is Moroccan inspired, the main spicing in the mix was Ras-el-hanut, a very aromatic ground spice blend.

Other times I'll use Asian five spice, or garam marsala spice blend, along with nutmeg and a pinch of ground cloves and cinnamon.

In Italian inspired meatballs, I like anise or fennel seed and a good hit of Italian herbs blend (marjoram, thyme, oregano, rosemary, etc.)

My mom's old trick, using a dry onion soup mix pkg instead of fresh or cooked onions, works darn well, too. Last night I used a one ounce pkg of dried onion soup mix to flavor 2.5 lbs of ground turkey. It made 40ish 2 inch diameter meatballs.



Hey, JJ. Those are some great flavoring ideas. Thanks. As you say, we may be looking at different objective texture-wise. I'm looking for the fine line between tender and falling apart. You seem to prefer meatier and more substantial. This recipe does have a lot of bread in it, but it came out tasting meaty, not bready. I'm making a chicken burger later in the week. I've made it before, I think it's a Giada recipe. Ground chicken with rosemary-mayo mixed into it. It comes out really moist and you have to be careful with it to keep it together, but delicious. The rest of the rosemary mayo goes on top when it's finished.


I was taught to make meatballs by a Sicilian family. The ratio of meat to bread was almost one to one. It makes fantastic meatballs. The bread soaks up all the juices and they are light, moist and flavorful. When you roast them there is almost no fat lost to the bottom of the pan.
This has become an awesome food thread Bill,  
BelieveJJ : 3/1/2021 10:49 am : link
partly because there are as many "best" meatball recipes and techniques as their are grandmas. It's not surprising the vast majority of responses have focused on Italian style meatballs, but that of course ignores a wide world of possibilities outside many Americans' normal or preemptive range.

Greek meatballs for example often contain lamb, Middle Eastern meatballs may contain lamb or goat with beef, but rarely veal and NEVER pork, and are often flavored with cinnamon and/or cumin and fresh parsley or parsley and coriander (cilsntro) mixed.

Bill re the rack of lamb coatings I've tried many, but have come to a very simple "best" preparation. As noted previously age the lamb at least one week post purchase in its original cryovac wrapping. Wash well in cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towel before prepping for roasting.

1) Cut pocket slits between each rib and insert a thin sliver of garlic in each pocket. One medium clove of garlic peeled and cut into thin strips is more than enough for a single 9 bone rack.
2) With 1-2 tsp of evoo, coat the whole rack with a thin film of oil.
3) Season liberally with your choice of ground spice blends. (I vary with my mood and side dish options among Chinese 5 spice, garam masala, and ras-el-hanut.)
(Be careful before the next steps if your spice blend already contains salt or pepper.)
4) Coat further with fresh ground pepper and salt.
5) Roast, fat side up, bones down. Does not require turning.

If I was grilling the rack, I might wrap the whole thing in copious branches of fresh thyme or rosemary - but I have found over time that grilling enrobed in a waft of fresh herbs works far better with a leg of lamb or any other large cot of meat that requires an hour or more of grilling or roasting, rather than on a small cut like a rack with its +/- 20 minute cooking time.

I've and tried recipes that encoat the rack with a mustard laced paste - sounds like a good idea in theory - but I find the flavor of a good rack (US, Aussie, Kiwi, French or Greek lamb) to be at the same time too delicate for mustard, and too flavorfull and aromatic for mustard at the same time, if that makes sense.

Middle eastern lamb is another story altogether with an extremely pungent aroma of its own as a starting point. Nothing "delicate" about it!
RE: It just doesn't matter  
Seth : 3/1/2021 10:58 am : link
In comment 15163796 Gary from The East End said:
Quote:
...

very subtle...made me chuckle.
I like to pan roast my rack of lamb particularly on the fat side  
gidiefor : Mod : 3/1/2021 11:41 am : link
in a cast iron pan before placing it in the oven - I find that browning it all around - then placing it in the oven at 425 to bring to temp -- makes for better edamame, and tasty, crispier areas against the bone
by the way -- a watched a Lydia Bostovich show last night  
gidiefor : Mod : 3/1/2021 11:47 am : link
where she food processed the onion, carrot and celery (i use fennel instead of celery) before she threw some in the meatball mix. She uses a lot of cheese - a combo of Parmigiana and Pecorino, and more bread crumbs than seem nec to me -- she makes the sauce buy heating up the ovo, adding garlic and then after cooking garlic briefly she adds a third of the onion, carrot and celery, stirs it in then adds the chopped tomatoes - and she renders it into sauce -- then places (she emphasizes small) the small meatballs into the sauce to cook. Her grandson gave a testimonial to her meatballs from his dorm room -- lol
Great thead  
TXRabbit : 3/1/2021 11:56 am : link
Last attempt to achieve what the OP is looking for had me using Beef/Veal/Pork, fresh spices, lots of garlic and cheese and a few eggs.
I used some boxed breadcrumbs (don't hate) and while the mix smelled great, they came out dense and dry.
I'm guessing the milk and bread (not dry crumbs) helps add moisture?
RE: by the way -- a watched a Lydia Bostovich show last night  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 12:07 pm : link
In comment 15164114 gidiefor said:
Quote:
where she food processed the onion, carrot and celery (i use fennel instead of celery) before she threw some in the meatball mix. She uses a lot of cheese - a combo of Parmigiana and Pecorino, and more bread crumbs than seem nec to me -- she makes the sauce buy heating up the ovo, adding garlic and then after cooking garlic briefly she adds a third of the onion, carrot and celery, stirs it in then adds the chopped tomatoes - and she renders it into sauce -- then places (she emphasizes small) the small meatballs into the sauce to cook. Her grandson gave a testimonial to her meatballs from his dorm room -- lol


I only found her about a year or two ago, but I really like many of her recipes. Here's the one I think you're referring to.

Ingredients
Meatballs
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground veal
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 cups bread crumbs
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
2 fresh bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon peperoncino
3 (28-ounce) cans Italian plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, crushed by hand
1 lb. spaghetti
Directions
It calls for three types of meat but a combination of any two or even one will work as well. It freezes well, but is best frozen in smaller quantities, (1/2 pint, 6-8 meatballs and sauce) so that it reconstitutes quickly.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a food processor, combine the carrot, celery and onion and pulse to make a fine-textured paste or pestata. Scrape pestata into a large bowl and add remaining meatball ingredients. Mix well with your hands to combine all of the ingredients. Roll into golf ball size meatballs and place on baking sheets. You should get about 4 dozen (48) meatballs. Bake meatballs until browned all over, about 18 to 20 minutes. (They do not need to be entirely cooked through, as they will cook more in the sauce).
While the meatballs are baking begin the sauce. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until glossy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle in ½ cup water and simmer the onions to break them down, about 2 to 3 minutes. Once the water has cooked away, add 1 teaspoon salt, the bay leaves and peperoncino. Let the peperoncino toast for a minute, then pour in the tomatoes. Slosh out the tomato cans and bowl with 4 cups hot water and add to the pot. Add the remaining teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer while the meatballs finish baking, about 10 minutes more. When the meatballs have finished baking, gently add them to the sauce and return to a simmer. Simmer, shaking the pan periodically to move but not break the meatballs, until sauce is thick and flavorful, about ½ hour.
Add 1 lb. spaghetti to boiling salted water. When the pasta is al dente, drain with tongs and add directly to ½ the sauce. Toss and serve immediately with some grated Grana Padano and a meatball or two on top. Add extra sauce to your taste.


Regarding JJ's comments, she also has a recipe for monkfish meatballs. And for anyone who might be interested in her, it's Lidia Bastianich :)
RE: My wife, who can't be bothered with making a panade,  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 12:15 pm : link
In comment 15163872 BelieveJJ said:
Quote:
Just finely grates a small freshly peeled potato and a medium- small fresh onion into the meat, one potato and one smallish onion per kilo of raw meat.

The eggs, I use one egg per pound of flesh. That works fine for lightening without bothering to add a seperated egg yolk.


I've done a batch with grated potato. I've also tried oatmeal and rice, lol
I have never met a meatball I didn't like.  
smshmth8690 : 3/1/2021 12:26 pm : link
Here's my recipe. Yes, I really do bring my own meat, or I buy it from a butcher who grinds it themselves. {I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I eat ground meat from a supermarket, I never really feel right afterwards)

Meatballs:
3 lb ground beef short rib (or 80/20 ground beef)
2 pounds ground pork butt
1 cup grated parmesan (or pecorino)
4 slices white bread crust removed soaked in milk
4 eggs beaten with a quarter cup of water
salt and pepper
8 cloves of garlic (minced)
half a medium onion (small dice)
one small carrot grated
1 cup chopped fresh parsley (flat leaf)
To Taste Salt & Pepper
half cup breadcrumbs (or more if needed)

Heat a little olive oil, and saute the onion, garlic & grated carrot, just until they cook through, then let cool before adding to the meat mix.
Combine the beef & pork in a large bowl.
Add the parmesan, beaten egg, bread that has been soaked in milk, and squeezed dry, sauteed vegetables & chopped fresh parsley.
Season to taste with a little salt & pepper
Mix gently trying not to squeeze the mixture too much with your hands. Add breadcrumbs, and check the consistency. You don’t want them too loose, if they won’t hold together, add more breadcrumb until they do. I like to brown mine in a little oil, but you can bake them off in the oven if you’d like. Brown them up, & put them in the…. GRAVY!
Let them simmer for a couple of hours. Pass the Italian bread.
RE: I have never met a meatball I didn't like.  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 1:01 pm : link
In comment 15164144 smshmth8690 said:
Quote:
Here's my recipe. Yes, I really do bring my own meat, or I buy it from a butcher who grinds it themselves. {I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I eat ground meat from a supermarket, I never really feel right afterwards)

Meatballs:
3 lb ground beef short rib (or 80/20 ground beef)
2 pounds ground pork butt
1 cup grated parmesan (or pecorino)
4 slices white bread crust removed soaked in milk
4 eggs beaten with a quarter cup of water
salt and pepper
8 cloves of garlic (minced)
half a medium onion (small dice)
one small carrot grated
1 cup chopped fresh parsley (flat leaf)
To Taste Salt & Pepper
half cup breadcrumbs (or more if needed)

Heat a little olive oil, and saute the onion, garlic & grated carrot, just until they cook through, then let cool before adding to the meat mix.
Combine the beef & pork in a large bowl.
Add the parmesan, beaten egg, bread that has been soaked in milk, and squeezed dry, sauteed vegetables & chopped fresh parsley.
Season to taste with a little salt & pepper
Mix gently trying not to squeeze the mixture too much with your hands. Add breadcrumbs, and check the consistency. You don’t want them too loose, if they won’t hold together, add more breadcrumb until they do. I like to brown mine in a little oil, but you can bake them off in the oven if you’d like. Brown them up, & put them in the…. GRAVY!
Let them simmer for a couple of hours. Pass the Italian bread.


Thanks for joining us :). I would never doubt any recipe you posted, so I'll give it a try, probably halving the recipe. Question- do you ever grind meat in a food processor instead of using a regular grinding machine or attachment? Do you think it works the meat or heats it up too much?
Many of your all's recipes are pretty intensive  
Jimmy Googs : 3/1/2021 1:58 pm : link
Googs family recipe is fairly simple and typically uses just one meat, ground beef as long as fat content is good. Sometimes add some ground pork if making bigger batch but not really needed for better flavor.

Put your wet mixture together separate with your favorite seasonings, pecorino romano, eggs, either panko or italian seasoned breadcrumbs work fine. We add some beef broth and olive oil into mixture. Add little bit of very finely chopped onion and garlic. Work mixture together with meat by hand, not too much as meatballs won't be tender. Make them slightly bigger than golf balls.

Put on prepared sheet pan and let sit out for a bit or in the fridge for about 30 min. When ready to bake add a little more beef broth into bottom of pan and put into to a 400 degree oven to brown for about 30 minutes or so. Remove from oven and let sit again for up to 30 minutes.

Then add to your already prepared gravy and let them merry together for at least an hour or so.

The gravy needs to be a whole other thread...
RE: Many of your all's recipes are pretty intensive  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 2:06 pm : link
In comment 15164258 Jimmy Googs said:
Quote:
Googs family recipe is fairly simple and typically uses just one meat, ground beef as long as fat content is good. Sometimes add some ground pork if making bigger batch but not really needed for better flavor.

Put your wet mixture together separate with your favorite seasonings, pecorino romano, eggs, either panko or italian seasoned breadcrumbs work fine. We add some beef broth and olive oil into mixture. Add little bit of very finely chopped onion and garlic. Work mixture together with meat by hand, not too much as meatballs won't be tender. Make them slightly bigger than golf balls.

Put on prepared sheet pan and let sit out for a bit or in the fridge for about 30 min. When ready to bake add a little more beef broth into bottom of pan and put into to a 400 degree oven to brown for about 30 minutes or so. Remove from oven and let sit again for up to 30 minutes.

Then add to your already prepared gravy and let them merry together for at least an hour or so.

The gravy needs to be a whole other thread...


Thanks, Jimmy. Looks like we've got some "gravy" advocates on this thread :) But as you said, whole other thread, whole other fight, lol
Watched The Godfather for a bit last night  
Jimmy Googs : 3/1/2021 2:14 pm : link
for only like the millionth time.

And always love when Clemenza shows Michael how to cook for like 20 guys. He swiftly makes his gravy and then he "shoves in" all his meats.

Not that he is any great chef, but he gets a lot of the best lines in the movie...



I make small balls  
Dankbeerman : 3/1/2021 3:36 pm : link
2 to 1 ratio of beef to pork. would use veal if I had it but its by no means needed. Fresh Parsley and Locateli homemade bread crumbs egg or 2 depending on size sauted onion.

What i like to do is use a mini muffin pan and spray it with olive oil and bake fliping them over halfway through then into the sauce along with some slice up sausage
RE: RE: I have never met a meatball I didn't like.  
smshmth8690 : 3/1/2021 4:18 pm : link
In comment 15164184 Bill in UT said:
Quote:
In comment 15164144 smshmth8690 said:


Quote:


Here's my recipe. Yes, I really do bring my own meat, or I buy it from a butcher who grinds it themselves. {I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I eat ground meat from a supermarket, I never really feel right afterwards)

Meatballs:
3 lb ground beef short rib (or 80/20 ground beef)
2 pounds ground pork butt
1 cup grated parmesan (or pecorino)
4 slices white bread crust removed soaked in milk
4 eggs beaten with a quarter cup of water
salt and pepper
8 cloves of garlic (minced)
half a medium onion (small dice)
one small carrot grated
1 cup chopped fresh parsley (flat leaf)
To Taste Salt & Pepper
half cup breadcrumbs (or more if needed)

Heat a little olive oil, and saute the onion, garlic & grated carrot, just until they cook through, then let cool before adding to the meat mix.
Combine the beef & pork in a large bowl.
Add the parmesan, beaten egg, bread that has been soaked in milk, and squeezed dry, sauteed vegetables & chopped fresh parsley.
Season to taste with a little salt & pepper
Mix gently trying not to squeeze the mixture too much with your hands. Add breadcrumbs, and check the consistency. You don’t want them too loose, if they won’t hold together, add more breadcrumb until they do. I like to brown mine in a little oil, but you can bake them off in the oven if you’d like. Brown them up, & put them in the…. GRAVY!
Let them simmer for a couple of hours. Pass the Italian bread.



Thanks for joining us :). I would never doubt any recipe you posted, so I'll give it a try, probably halving the recipe. Question- do you ever grind meat in a food processor instead of using a regular grinding machine or attachment? Do you think it works the meat or heats it up too much?


Just realized that I spelled 'grind' wrong, and it corrected to 'bring'.
I use the meat grinder attachment on the Kitchenaid mixer. I just make sure that the meat is very cold. I usually cut it in small cubes, and the put it in the freezer for a while. It helps to put the attachment in the freezer as well.
I just dug my Kitchenaid grinder  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 4:30 pm : link
attachment out of the closet. It's not like I'm impoverished or anything like that, but I still remain ridiculously cheap about some things. I need ground chicken for Wednesday and saw some in the store for $4.99 a pound, which is more than you pay for wings or breast meat alone. Then I noticed a whole 5 pound chicken nearing it's sell-by date and marked down to $2.19 for the whole thing. Shit, I can break down a whole chicken, so I bought it, froze it, and Wednesday I'll cut it up and grind it. I'm retired, I've got the time, lol. If I want to make a burger, should I leave out some breast meat to keep it fattier? And when grinding a chicken, do you include the skin (I'd think so)?
Bill  
Bill2 : 3/1/2021 5:08 pm : link
Great thread!!

Thank you.
RE: RE: RE: I have never met a meatball I didn't like.  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 5:15 pm : link
In comment 15164393 smshmth8690 said:
Quote:

I use the meat grinder attachment on the Kitchenaid mixer. I just make sure that the meat is very cold. I usually cut it in small cubes, and the put it in the freezer for a while. It helps to put the attachment in the freezer as well.


Drew, I've got a chest freezer in the garage. I think that if I emptied it I could just about fit inside with my chicken and Kitchenaid. That would solve everything
Meatballs - Great Motivational Speech - It Just Doesn't Matter  
Grey Pilgrim : 3/1/2021 6:01 pm : link
lmao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mf3Bypyk8 - ( New Window )
RE: Meatballs - Great Motivational Speech - It Just Doesn't Matter  
Bill in UT : 3/1/2021 8:22 pm : link
In comment 15164441 Grey Pilgrim said:
Quote:
lmao https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mf3Bypyk8 - ( New Window )


I'm sorry, but meatballs do matter
The KEY is the bread...  
x meadowlander : 3/2/2021 8:24 am : link
...to me, that explosion of hot juice you get when you bite into a perfect meatball is the one element I work hard to get right. I use a Cuisinart to reduce the bread to crumbs BEFORE combining with buttermilk to get an even balance of moist bread throughout the meatballs.

- Use GOOD parm. None of the store brand crap. A great cheese, like Locatelle, makes a huge difference.

Other tips from decades of work on this:
- Instead of raw garlic, I use a clove each of raw and roasted garlic. Sweetens and takes a bit of the bite out.

- Don't fry more than a dozen at a time. Depending on the ground meat, sometimes more water gets released into the oil than you want and the meatballs wind up boiling in *blown head gasket* looking oily water rather than frying. Change the oil out between batches if that happens.

- Deglaze the pan after frying the balls with wine or even tomato paste and dump that in the sauce UNLESS it's nasty. Frying/Deglazing can produce heaven or hell, if it's liquid carbon, throw it out!

- Half hour in the sauce before serving is plenty. If you go longer than that, you risk rubbery meatballs.
RE: Paging Rob Nargi  
rnargi : 3/2/2021 2:32 pm : link
In comment 15163807 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
Paging Rob Nargi ..


Haha! No need for my recipe here, plenty of great ones to choose from. Now, if someone wants to talk bracciole, well, that's a horse of a different color!

Actually, talking about meatballs, the absolute best I've ever had were from Janko's Little Zagreb in Bloomington, Indiana. SPICY! I would do anything to get the recipe. Does anyone have a good Hungarian/Croatian meatball recipe? And I'm serious if you're ever in Bloomington, you have to try these. The only drawback is the portion is GIGANTIC and it's supposed to be an "appetizer" for their monster steaks and potatoes.
Janko's - ( New Window )
Wow..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/2/2021 2:45 pm : link
Little Zagreb gets a lot of love!

We used to have a facility in Bloomington and we thought we had found a little gem hidden there when we went to dinner one time. Made it a mainstay every time we were out there.

Come to find out, a LOT of people knew it as a great restaurant. The meatballs are fantastic. I used to get the rib eye, but we'd almost always get 1 or 2 orders of meatballs for apps
RE: Wow..  
rnargi : 3/2/2021 2:50 pm : link
In comment 15164987 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
Little Zagreb gets a lot of love!

We used to have a facility in Bloomington and we thought we had found a little gem hidden there when we went to dinner one time. Made it a mainstay every time we were out there.

Come to find out, a LOT of people knew it as a great restaurant. The meatballs are fantastic. I used to get the rib eye, but we'd almost always get 1 or 2 orders of meatballs for apps


I was in Bloomington for work at NSWC Crane about once a month for several years. I went often, and I also used to get the Rib Eye. We'd normally split a meatball app, and I'd always take some back to the hotel. There were lots of good spots in Bloomington in the late 2000s/early 10s. Haven't been back since 2015 or so
I have a good story..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/2/2021 2:57 pm : link
about Little Zagreb. They had a Waygu beef hot dog on the kid's menu and one of my co-workers mentioned it every time we were there. He always wanted to order it. And the waitstaff could sometimes be pretty sarcastic.

One time, he finally decides he's going to get the hot dog as an app. He orders it and the waiter looks at him. Looks around the table. Looks down. Then says. "Is there a kid hiding somewhere?". My co-worker says "No. I'd just like to order it". The waiter says to him. "It's on the kid's menu. Find a kid. Rent a kid. Pay a kid here to order it and take it from him. But you, Mr. Adult cannot order it"

And the next time we were in there, we had a different waiter and he said "And don't even think about ordering the hot dog!"
RE: I have a good story..  
rnargi : 3/2/2021 3:10 pm : link
In comment 15165007 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
about Little Zagreb. They had a Waygu beef hot dog on the kid's menu and one of my co-workers mentioned it every time we were there. He always wanted to order it. And the waitstaff could sometimes be pretty sarcastic.

One time, he finally decides he's going to get the hot dog as an app. He orders it and the waiter looks at him. Looks around the table. Looks down. Then says. "Is there a kid hiding somewhere?". My co-worker says "No. I'd just like to order it". The waiter says to him. "It's on the kid's menu. Find a kid. Rent a kid. Pay a kid here to order it and take it from him. But you, Mr. Adult cannot order it"

And the next time we were in there, we had a different waiter and he said "And don't even think about ordering the hot dog!"


Lol I can see that! They *hated* when someone tried to special order or change things up...and God forbid someone order a steak anything grilled more than medium rare. Ooof.
LOL..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/2/2021 3:13 pm : link
Now that you say that - I ordered my rib eye medium once and the waiter said "Medium rare it is, right?". And I said - "of course, my mistake"

Ha!
RE: LOL..  
gidiefor : Mod : 3/2/2021 3:25 pm : link
In comment 15165026 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
Now that you say that - I ordered my rib eye medium once and the waiter said "Medium rare it is, right?". And I said - "of course, my mistake"

Ha!


rib eye is a cut that I think suffers if it is too rare -- you need to crystalize/render the fat a little more in my opinion - medium is more to my taste with that cut
Geezus ... anybody else come here thinking it was a thread  
short lease : 3/2/2021 3:44 pm : link

about the Bill Murray Movie?



It just doesn't matter. - ( New Window )
RE: Geezus ... anybody else come here thinking it was a thread  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 3:59 pm : link
In comment 15165081 short lease said:
Quote:

about the Bill Murray Movie?



Yeah, the first poster. I guess you didn't start there :)
RE: RE: Geezus ... anybody else come here thinking it was a thread  
short lease : 3/2/2021 4:06 pm : link
In comment 15165108 Bill in UT said:
Quote:
In comment 15165081 short lease said:


Quote:



about the Bill Murray Movie?





Yeah, the first poster. I guess you didn't start there :)



lol - sorry Bill I started with the thread title. : )

But, I did go back and read the 1st 3 posts. My bad .... : )
RE: RE: RE: Geezus ... anybody else come here thinking it was a thread  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:23 pm : link
In comment 15165122 short lease said:
Quote:
In comment 15165108 Bill in UT said:


Quote:


In comment 15165081 short lease said:


Quote:



about the Bill Murray Movie?





Yeah, the first poster. I guess you didn't start there :)




lol - sorry Bill I started with the thread title. : )

But, I did go back and read the 1st 3 posts. My bad .... : )


No problem at all :) I start lots of longer threads at the end. Funny, the movie never occurred to me when I wrote the thread title or I would have been more careful. I won't start a thread in the future with "Godfather" if I'm thinking of pizza.
That's..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/2/2021 4:27 pm : link
because you should have decent taste in pizza based on your other threads!!
X meadiwlander, I heartily disagree with your comment or  
BelieveJJ : 3/2/2021 4:37 pm : link
observation below:

Quote:
Half hour in the sauce before serving is plenty. If you go longer than that, you risk rubbery meatballs.


If you have the ratios of meat, panade, egg and any other liquids dialed in right meatballs DON'T toughen by prolonged cooking in liquid, not in my experience.
RE: That's..  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:40 pm : link
In comment 15165149 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
because you should have decent taste in pizza based on your other threads!!


not really, lol. I can enjoy almost any kind of pizza. I don't buy much chain pizza. In Utah I did some Papa Murphy's bake at home. Since Covid, tho, I've pretty much just been making my own. Made a margherita the other day with no-cook sauce, some fresh mozzarella that was getting old, and fresh basil. I also don't have very good taste in wine. While I enjoy some better ones, my usual daily one is 3 buck Chuck. But, shhhh, that's just between you and me
In fact  
BelieveJJ : 3/2/2021 4:40 pm : link
the texture of the meatballs once made and cooked is dependent solely on the temperature at service, the softness/tenderness being directly proportional to the temperature.
I heard that!  
BelieveJJ : 3/2/2021 4:42 pm : link
3 buck Chuck? OMG my cheap seats winencost $30 per bottle.
RE: I heard that!  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:44 pm : link
In comment 15165163 BelieveJJ said:
Quote:
3 buck Chuck? OMG my cheap seats winencost $30 per bottle.


That's why I drink a bottle of Chuck before I go out for dinner :) Plus, you fail to mention that Chuck would easily be jacked up to $9-10 in a restuarant.
Isn't  
FatMan in Charlotte : 3/2/2021 4:48 pm : link
3 Buck Chuck At least four bucks in most places now?
RE: In fact  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:48 pm : link
In comment 15165157 BelieveJJ said:
Quote:
the texture of the meatballs once made and cooked is dependent solely on the temperature at service, the softness/tenderness being directly proportional to the temperature.


So what's your ideal serving temp? In a restaurant, would the meatballs be kept in the sauce or held elsewhere until ordered? I'd love to have some of the restaurant guys do a thread some day on restaurant methods and tricks of the trade.
RE: Isn't  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:50 pm : link
In comment 15165172 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
3 Buck Chuck At least four bucks in most places now?


Not here. But 3 buck Chuck used to be 2 buck Chuck. I would never drink that shit. When it was 2 bucks, I was living in Utah and Trader Joe's couldn't sell wine there
RE: Isn't  
Bill in UT : 3/2/2021 4:51 pm : link
In comment 15165172 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
3 Buck Chuck At least four bucks in most places now?


You made me thirsty. I just poured myself a Dixie cup full. Oops, forgot my straw.
RE: RE: RE: RE: Geezus ... anybody else come here thinking it was a thread  
short lease : 3/2/2021 6:17 pm : link
In comment 15165144 Bill in UT said:
Quote:
In comment 15165122 short lease said:


Quote:


In comment 15165108 Bill in UT said:


Quote:


In comment 15165081 short lease said:


Quote:



about the Bill Murray Movie?





Yeah, the first poster. I guess you didn't start there :)




lol - sorry Bill I started with the thread title. : )

But, I did go back and read the 1st 3 posts. My bad .... : )



No problem at all :) I start lots of longer threads at the end. Funny, the movie never occurred to me when I wrote the thread title or I would have been more careful. I won't start a thread in the future with "Godfather" if I'm thinking of pizza.




+1
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