Jumbo Cheesy Italian Meatballs

Name: Jumbo Cheesy Italian Meatballs
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian, European
Ingredients: 3 sprigs basil, plus chopped leaves for topping; 828 milliliters torn stale Italian bread (about 1/4 loaf); 794 grams crushed tomatoes; 2 larges eggs; 1 clove garlic, grated; 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 907 grams ground beef chuck; 4 servings Kosher salt; 4 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini); 2 Tbsps extra-virgin olive oil; 4 servings Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing; 118 milliliters grated parmesan cheese; 237 milliliters small bunch parsley, chopped(about; 0 teaspoons red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoons red pepper flakes; 4 servings Ricotta cheese, for topping; 237 milliliters whole milk

The recipe Jumbo Cheesy Italian Meatballs could satisfy your Mediterranean craving in roughly 1 hour. For $3.75 per serving, you get If you have parmesan cheese, ground beef chuck, pepper flakes, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. To use up the eggs you could follow this main course with the Rose Levy Beranbaum's Chocolate Tomato Cake with Mystery Ganache as a dessert.

Instructions

Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Olive Oil

Bread

Equipment you will use

Food Processor

Baking Sheet

Oven

Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine.

Ingredients you will need

Red Pepper Flakes

Parmesan

Parsley

Garlic

Beef

Egg

Milk

Salt

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).

Ingredients you will need

Bread

Milk

Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Bocconcini

Meatballs

Cheese

Meat

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Oven

Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat.

Ingredients you will need

Olive Oil

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute.

Ingredients you will need

Red Pepper Flakes

Garlic

Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Tomato

Basil

Water

Salt

Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Meatballs

Sauce