Old Fashioned Great Fried Meatballs

The great fried meatballs. Everyone’s mother and grandmother’s meatball recipe is the best and there are a hundred different way to make them.

Some all beef, some beef and pork, some beef, pork and veal, etc. and some fried and some baked.

Each family has there own secret for making the best.

Mine is no secret.

I’ve tried many times to duplicate my Grandmother’s meatball recipe but still haven’t gotten the exact taste I’m looking for.

Though I’ll keep trying, mine still turn out to be pretty tasty.

SERVING: Serves 4-8

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/4 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2-3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1/4-1/2 cup fresh shredded Parmesan
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 3 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix beef, eggs, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4-1/2 cup parmesan (depending on taste) and parsley in a large bowl
2. Peel and roughly chop garlic, then mash with mortar and pestle along with 1-2 tsp sea salt until a paste is formed
3. Add garlic paste to beef mixture
4. Mix beef gently with hands until just combined. Do not overwork the meat
5. Heat oil in heavy bottomed pan (preferrably cast iron) over medium to medium high heat and preheat oven to 400
6. Form 2-4 tbsp sized meatballs out of the mixture, rolling in your hands gently, and add to the hot oil
7. Continue to add meatballs about 1 inch apart so not to overcrowd the pan (this will take 2-3 batches at least)
8. Cook until browned on one side, then flip meatballs over. Larger meatballs might need to be browned on more than one side
9. Place browned meatballs on greased baking sheet
10. Once all batches of meatballs are browned, place in oven for 5-10 minutes to finish cooking. Smaller meatballs might be completely cooked before the oven, larger meatballs will need around 10 minutes, this is based on preference
11. Once meatballs come out of the oven, sprinkle with remaining tsp of sea salt and serve
12. You can also finish cooking the meatballs in sauce instead of the oven, though you’ll lose the crispy exterior (which is my favorite)

THE SAUCE

How to make a Marinara sauce

How to make Authentic Bolognese Sauce

BUON MANGIATA! 

Meet Anita Augello – The woman behind all of these Italian favorites.

Follow us on Facebook for more recipes and stories.