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Spaghetti and Fist Sized Meatball

Uncle Chris's "Fist Sized Meatballs"

Recipe by Chris Tabacca
Course Entree
Cuisine Italian
Keyword meatballs
Author TheSpicedLife

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic grated on fine microplane (this is Uncle Chris's secret method <secret no longer> to keep the meatballs from having any sharp bites of garlic)
  • 3/4 cup minced shallots (from 3-4 shallots)
  • 4 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 T minced fresh Italian parsley
  • 4 oz fresh grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
  • 3 T minced fresh basil
  • 1 lb ground veal ground pork can be substituted
  • 1 lb lean 90% ground beef
  • 1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage
  • 1/2 lb hot Italian sausage my kids can eat these-the end result is not hot
  • 6 eggs
  • 3 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Have ready a 12-well muffin tin.
  2. Saute the garlic and shallots in the extra virgin olive oil until translucent. Set aside to cool.
  3. Using a large bowl, mix together the grated Parmesan, minced fresh herbs and sautéed garlic and shallots (do not add the garlic and shallots hot to the cheese or it may melt). Add the ground meats and 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs. Whisk together the 6 eggs and add them to the bowl. Using your hands, gently mix and knead the mixture until it is evenly combined. Do not over knead however, or the meatballs may become tough.
  4. The mixture will make 9 fist sized meatballs. Take about 1/9 of the mixture and gently form it into a ball. Roll the ball into the remaining bread crumbs and then place gently into a muffin well. It should not sink to the bottom, you do not want it to touch the bottom of the pan. Repeat with the remaining meatball mixture.
  5. Place a few tablespoons of water into any muffin wells that are not used. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and the internal temperature of the largest meatball is 160 F.
  6. Carefully place the meatballs into a simmering pot of marinara sauce. Let simmer for 20 minutes to meld the flavors togethers. Serve with pasta of choice.