The kitchen is a gathering place, where family members can cook together and eat while sharing about their day. However, everyone has different tastes, so it can be a challenge to cook something that the whole family enjoys.
Chef Michael Laukert, a renowned chef, husband and father, uses his kitchen to make delicious meals as well as memories cooking with his young son. Chef Michael developed an Italian meatball recipe that the whole family is sure to enjoy eating as well as making. He put a spicy twist on the traditional recipe by adding Volpi Calabrese Salami, a garlic-rich dry cured Italian meat from Volpi Foods. Chef Michael shares his recipe for these unique Italian meatballs below.
Ingredients:
1/2 lb of ground pork
½ lb Veal, ground
1 lb of ground beef (80/20 blend)
½ lb Volpi Calabrese Salami, small dice
1 tbsp Fresh Garlic, minced
2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper
1 lightly beaten large egg
2/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp Italian Parsley
1/2 cup of milk
½ cup Bread Crumbs
3 tbsp of fresh onion, minced
2 oz Olive Oil for sautéing meatballs
Place all ground meats in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to this mixture. Mix together well. Check to ensure the seasoning meets your taste by forming a small patty and cooking in a saute pan. Once the seasoning is to your liking, begin to form the meatballs.
Now here’s the part of the recipe where kids love to help out. Form the meatballs using about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the meatball mixture. This mixture will form approximately 24 golf ball sized meatballs.
Heat 2 ounces of olive oil in large sauce pot over medium high heat. Add the meatballs in batches once the oil becomes hot. Cook each side of the meatball, allowing each part to become golden brown before turning to cook another side.
Once these Italian meatballs are cooked, you can add them to your favorite spaghetti recipe. Or, place them on a sliced Italian loaf, top with some marinara and provolone cheese, and enjoy a hot meatball sandwich. You could even serve the meatballs as appetizers at football watching parties or family gatherings. Simply place them in a slow cooker or crock pot, cover with marinara sauce, and allow your guests to help themselves using forks or toothpicks.
Besides being a guaranteed crowd pleaser, this Italian meatball recipe can be made in advance. Once all the Italian meatballs are cooked, let them cool, then put them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to two months! They will be perfect when you need a quick dish for a holiday party, or just a busy night when you don’t have time to cook. You will thank yourself later when all you have to do is heat and serve these tasty Italian meatballs!
Comments on this entry are closed.