Tre Stelle® Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs
The Ricotta cheese is a surprise in the middle and makes these meatballs extra tender.
Prep Time:35 minutes Ready In:
1 + hour Serves:
Makes approximately 35 meatballs
Ingredients:
1/2 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 tbsp | 15 mL olive oil 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 slices Italian bread, torn into pieces 1/2 cup | 125 mL milk 1 lb | 454 g Italian sausage (removed from casing and broken into pieces) 1 lb | 454 g veal, pork, beef combined ground meat 2 large eggs, beaten 1/4 cup | 60 mL fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped 3/4 cup | 175 mL Tre Stelle® Romano Cheese, grated 1/2 cup | 125 mL pine nuts, toasted (optional) breadcrumbs (optional) 3/4 cup | 175 mL Tre Stelle® Ricotta Cheese 2 tbsp | 30 mL fresh basil, finely chopped 2 tbsp | 30 mL fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped 1 tsp | 5 mL salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a small skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and onions. Sauté until onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook for one additional minute. Remove from heat and set aside. Place bread pieces in a small bowl. Add milk and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Squeeze out milk and crumble the bread into smaller pieces; set aside. In a large bowl combine onion mixture, soaked bread pieces, sausage, ground meat, eggs, parsley, Romano Cheese and pine nuts. Using hands, combine until ingredients are distributed evenly. At this point if mixture seems wet use your discretion and add teaspoonfuls of breadcrumbs until mixture comes together. Refrigerate until ready to use. In a small bowl combine Ricotta Cheese, basil, parsley; season with salt and pepper. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to assemble. Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). With damp hands, form meatballs into 2” balls. Using your finger, make an impression in the centre of the ball and place a 1/2 tsp of Ricotta Cheese mixture into the middle. Pat meat to enclose Ricotta Cheese completely. Place meatballs on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Serve with fresh crusty bread and marinara sauce.
