Recipes
Meatballs: 20 fantastic recipes not to be missed
Here are the best recipes for preparing delicious meatballs: from the classic ones to the infinite variations of fish, cheese, legumes and vegetables, there really is something for all tastes!
If you are a meatball lover, the delicious recipes we offer you today will literally make you lose your mind ! Meatballs are a dish that can be prepared in truly infinite shapes , variations, sizes and cooking methods, and are widespread throughout the world and in practically all existing culinary traditions. In fact, we can enjoy them with meat or fish, but also prepare veg meatballs, as we will see today by exploring some of the most delicious recipes ever.
In short, what are we waiting for? Let's find out everything about this fabulous recipe right away!
How are meatballs made?
Let's start from the basics: how are meatballs prepared? Generally there are some tricks and precautions that you need to know before getting to work, because on the one hand it is true that preparing this dish means putting inspiration, imagination and personality into it, but at the same time the basics are certainly the most suitable starting point. So let's see two very important things: how the meatball dough is made and how they can be cooked once they have been shaped.
The meatball dough
As previously mentioned, meatballs can be made of meat, fish, vegetables, legumes, cheese… in short, any ingredient (or almost any) is a possible candidate to become the protagonist of this dish ! The first step, therefore, is to choose the flavor of your meatballs: do you want to make them with minced meat, broccoli, lentils, or perhaps with good cod?
Once done, you need to make the so-called dough, that is, add ingredients to the main one to create an optimal consistency . In this sense, eggs help us, as they hold everything together, but usually breadcrumbs, spices, aromas and herbs, cheese… and so on are also used: meatballs have in fact become popular as a recovery dish par excellence. , so remember that when choosing ingredients the best allies you have are the fridge and the pantry .
You can therefore add cheeses of all types, stale bread (which is used to give consistency to the dough ), vegetables, leftover cold cuts, meat, etc. The important thing is to balance the flavors well and have in mind what you want to cook.
Once the dough has been made, which must first be mixed with a fork, but which must then be rigorously worked by hand , the next phase is to give them the shape: the advice we give you is not to make too big meatballs (as a reference , grandmothers said not to go beyond the size of a large walnut, but if you like them you can also dare and prepare mega meatballs!)
Another shape that has become widespread is the slightly more flattened and flattened one, ideal for uniform cooking on two sides.
Cooking meatballs
Once the dough is finished and the meatballs have been shaped, you need to move on to cooking : they can generally be cooked in a pan or in the oven, depending on whether you want a lighter or… tastier result! Here are the main methods:
- Baked meatballs : usually the meatballs are coated in breadcrumbs and then placed on a baking tray lined with lightly greased baking paper, then cooked at 180°C for about half an hour , turning them halfway through cooking for uniform browning.
- Fried meatballs : heat some seed oil and in the meantime dip the meatballs in the breadcrumbs, or first in the egg and then in the breadcrumbs or even in the flour, finally dip them in the boiling oil for a few minutes . This is faster and more violent cooking, but also fattier than the oven.
- Meatballs in a pan : if you want you can also cook the meatballs with a drizzle of oil but without frying them. In this case cooking will take longer than ordinary frying.
- Stewed meatballs : stewed meatballs are meatballs cooked in a pan and not fried, and which are softened with sauce. The most famous are the tomato ones, and to make them all you have to do is brown them in a pan on all sides and then finish cooking by sprinkling them with sauce and various condiments (salt, pepper, basil, onion, etc.).
The best recipes with meatballs
Now that meatballs no longer have any secrets for you, let's see 20 delicious variations to enjoy this wonderful dish, from meat ones to some decidedly original recipes. For each of these recipes you can obviously decide whether to cook the meatballs in the oven, in a pan or whether to fry them in boiling oil! You are ready? Let's go!
1. Meatballs
Let's start with the more classic meatballs , which are eaten throughout Italy especially as a second course combined with vegetables or tasty side dishes . These meatballs can be prepared with minced beef and pork, mortadella, eggs, parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt and pepper, also adding chopped onion .
However, if you want to prepare them more simply , all you need is ground meat, 1 egg, a handful of grated cheese and some breadcrumbs .
2. Meatballs with sauce
Meatballs with sauce are a real marvel, which you can enjoy both as a main course or as a single dish, but also use to give life to the traditional American dish par excellence: spaghetti with meatballs!
In this case, to prepare them, flour the meatballs and fry them in olive oil in a pan. Then add the onion and when it is golden , add some white wine, then add the puree and leave to cook for about twenty minutes . Season with salt, pepper and fresh basil or parsley . You can either prepare meatballs with red sauce or fish or vegetable meatballs: the procedure is the same !
3. Chicken meatballs
We talked about minced beef and pork, which are the main types of meat used for this preparation, but you can also use chicken if perhaps you want a lighter result that children will also like.
You can also use leftover chicken perhaps from the night before, cut it into small pieces and reuse it for this delicious preparation. On the contrary, choose the breast, cook it and then cut it into very small pieces so that it blends perfectly with the rest of the ingredients. Here are thechicken meatballs !
4. Fish balls
Instead of meat you can also use fish to prepare fabulous meatballs . What changes from those with meat? Well, first of all they are lighter, although by using fish it is possible that the cost of raw materials is slightly higher.
As for the type of fish, the most popular are cod balls , but other types can also be used (white fish are definitely the best): therefore make room for trout, sea bream, hake or sea bass . Boil the fish and then remove the skin and any bones, then mix with potatoes, garlic, parsley, eggs, breadcrumbs … and you're done!
5. Tuna meatballs
Slightly different story for tuna meatballs , which are obviously made from fish but for which canned tuna is used. This makes them a preparation that is certainly less refined than others, but very quick and with a delicious yield!
All you have to do is open the canned tuna, drain it, and mix it with eggs, potatoes, parsley, salt, pepper and other seasonings to taste . Instead of potatoes you can also use ricotta to soften the dough .
6. Eggplant meatballs
Are you an aubergine lover? Then you definitely have to try this fabulous variant. To prepare the aubergine meatballs you must first cook the protagonists of the recipe in the oven, leaving them whole.
After 1 hour, take them and remove the skin, and the pulp will already be nice and soft . Take it with a spoon and add it to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients: you will see what a spectacle!
7. Courgette meatballs
Here we are at one of the most popular vegetable meatball recipes: let's talk about courgette meatballs !
The perfect ally for these delicious vegetable spheres are potatoes, which can help you obtain a homogeneous mixture . In terms of taste, however, nothing goes better with courgettes than mint.
8. Potato meatballs
Here are some fantastic meatballs without meat… and without fish! Potato meatballs are a delicious way to enjoy them : boil or steam them first and then mix them with the other ingredients.
You can flavor them as you like, using the basic ingredients (eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper) and adding cheeses, cured meats, other vegetables, spices and anything that tickles your imagination !
9. Chickpea meatballs
Chickpeas are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen, with which you can make many delicious dishes. Have you ever tried chickpea meatballs ? They are really fantastic, even if a little long to make, since the chickpeas must first be soaked for half a day and then cooked in water for about ninety minutes .
To avoid preparation times you can also buy pre-cooked canned chickpeas, although the final taste will be slightly affected. Once cooked, mash them and then blend them with eggs, spices and the ingredients you like most!
10. Lentil meatballs
Are you looking for veg meatballs rich in flavor and substantial? Then lentil meatballs are for you! For this recipe it is also possible not to use eggs and make meatballs with lentils, potatoes, onion and some aromatic herbs and seasonings.
This is a recipe for a complete meal and you can also offer it as a vegan second course, perhaps accompanied by vegetables or a delicious salad . Seeing is believing!
11. Bean balls
Let's stay with legume meatballs and see how to prepare bean meatballs , excellent for a side dish or a second vegetarian course but at the same time rich and tasty. Just a few ingredients are enough to make this dish, including potatoes, aromatic herbs, milk, some spices… and obviously them, the protagonists!
But what type of beans should you use? There are no limits, even if we recommend borlotti or cannellini . As far as timing is concerned, if you choose canned beans all you have to do is drain them from the preserving liquid and add them to the other ingredients.
12. Quinoa meatballs
Quinoa is truly perfect for preparing meatballs, and you can combine it with many delicious vegetables , such as courgettes, but also aubergines, broccoli and many others.
Rinse the quinoa under running water and then cook it following the instructions on the package. Once ready, mix all the other ingredients and when you have shaped your quinoa meatballs , all you have to do is cook them!
13. Rice balls
Did you know that rice can become the protagonist of a finger food … which will literally sell out like hot cakes? Stuffed rice croquettes are a marvel for the eyes and the palate, and above all they are very easy to prepare. Once the rice has been boiled, it is mixed with parmesan and eggs (and if you like saffron) and then balls are created which can be filled with ham and cheese, but also with many other ingredients .
Once done, the meatballs are then dipped in the egg, in the flour, then again in the egg and in the breadcrumbs. We 're already feeling peckish , what about you?
14. Cauliflower meatballs
Cauliflower is a perfect candidate for meatballs, as its delicate flavor and creamy texture are perfect for this preparation. Also in this case the potatoes help to push the flavours, and in addition to these, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, cheese and eggs are used.
Obviously, before kneading everything, boil both the potatoes and the cauliflowers. Here are the cauliflower meatballs !
15. Spinach meatballs
For those who love spinach and vegetarian recipes, here is the perfect preparation: spinach meatballs. The only precaution for this recipe is cooking the spinach, which must first be blanched in water and then squeezed well to release all the absorbed liquid .
Once done, chop them with a knife or pass them in the blender together with the rest of the ingredients chosen to give life to the dough.
16. Bread balls
If you want to look for a way to recycle leftover bread, these meatballs are ideal for you. To prepare them you can choose some ingredients to pair with the bread (here, we put some spinach, but vegetables of any kind or other are fine).
So take the bread and soak it in milk, then squeeze it and add eggs, various condiments, vegetables and everything else. For cooking, we recommend frying to enjoy this dish to the fullest! Try making bread balls too!
17. Leek meatballs
Leeks are also delicious for making meatballs. To make them you must first clean and peel the leeks and then cook them in a pan, but since their consistency is not in itself optimal for a soft and smooth dough, it is advisable to add some boiled potatoes for a perfect result.
Then add everything you like (onion, grated cheese, but also cold cuts or other) and make delicious leek meatballs , perfect for all occasions!
18. Pumpkin meatballs
Pumpkin is also perfect for creating meatballs. In this case you can choose whether to blanch the pumpkin or cook it in the oven. In the first case, make sure you crush it well on a sieve to remove the absorbed water, then add potatoes, eggs and everything else and mix. For a delicious result we recommend trying them fried with breadcrumbs!
For you, here are our fabulouspumpkin meatballs !
19. Broccoli meatballs
Perfect if you want your children to enjoy this vegetable too, broccoli meatballs are really tasty! Also in this case, the broccoli is cooked in boiling water and once the stems, leaves and hard parts have been removed, it is mashed with the tines of a fork together with the potatoes, eggs and everything else.
To enjoy them at their best we recommend frying them or cooking them in a pan, but if you bake them you will get a perfect dish that is not only vegetarian , but also light !
20. Ricotta meatballs
We conclude with a recipe based on cheese, which here becomes not just an ingredient, but the true protagonist of the dish!
Preparing ricotta meatballs is really simple and all you have to do is mix the ricotta with grated cheese, salt, pepper, 1 egg, breadcrumbs, parsley and oil. Make balls and then cook them in a pan or in the oven . A simple and perfect dish for an aperitif at home !
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