Michael Symons Beef And Ricotta Meatballs Recipes

MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic until softened but not browned. Let cool and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the excess milk from the bread and add the bread to the bowl. Add the beef, egg, oregano, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix by hand until smooth. Form into little meatballs, about 1 ounce each.
• Heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dust the meatballs in flour and shallow-fry them until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• To serve: Place on a platter and garnish with lemon wedges and torn mint leaves.

SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ribs and brown evenly, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, sprinkle with salt and cook until translucent, 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until everything is soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the white wine, stirring to deglaze the pan. Add the tomatoes along with the oregano, red pepper flakes if using, bay leaf and Parmesan rind. Bring the sauce to a simmer, reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting and continue to cook until reduced by about a third, for up to 8 hours.
• Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. Remove the bay leaf. If not using right away, let the sauce cool, and then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months. Makes about 2 quarts.
• For the meatballs and sauce: In a small saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil, the garlic and shallots and sweat until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Soak the bread in the milk in a medium bowl.
• In a separate bowl, combine the beef with the ricotta, basil, parsley, Parmesan, salt, egg and the cooked shallots and garlic. After the bread has soaked up the milk, remove it from the bowl and ring out the remaining liquid. Thoroughly mix the bread into the meat mixture.
• Form the meat mixture into 2-inch balls using about 1/4 cup for each. Heat the remaining olive oil in a large frying pan and add the meatballs. Cook until golden on the outside, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Place Yia Yia's Neapolitan Sauce in a large saucepan and add the meatballs. (Keep the frying pan for finishing the pasta.) Bring to a simmer and simmer about 30 minutes.
• For the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti al dente, according to the package directions.
• Add a cup or two of the sauce to the empty meatball pan over medium heat. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the pan, along with the basil leaves, Parmesan and butter. Toss to coat. Transfer to a serving platter, top with the meatballs and ribs from Yia Yia's Neapolitan Sauce and serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

MICHAEL SYMON'S MOTHER'S RICOTTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine ground pork & ground beef in a bowl. Add ricotta cheese and egg. Mix thoroughly. Stir in flat leaf parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, nutmeg, and salt. Sprinkle in flour. Form meat mixture into 1" balls. (Sic. What is meant is to form the meatballs, then dust them in flour prior to frying.).
• Warm olive oil in sauté pan over medium-high heat. Fry meatballs until golden brown. Remove from pan & set aside.
• Heat more olive oil in sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sweat onions and garlic cloves in olive oil until translucent (4-5 minutes). Deglaze pan by adding red wine, then cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add tomatoes and chile flakes, then bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste. Add meatballs, then simmer for 30 minutes.

TINY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a medium saute pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the grated onion and a pinch of salt and cook until the onion begins to release some moisture and soften, about 2 minutes. Add the grated garlic and cook until softened. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Soak the bread in the milk in a small bowl for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Combine the onion and garlic mixture with the ground meat in a large bowl. Add the egg. Squeeze out the bread, discarding the milk, and add the bread to the meat mixture along with the oregano, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients with your hands until they are evenly distributed. Form meatballs right away or cover and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 day.
• Put some flour in a bowl or pie plate. Form the meat mixture into balls a little bit smaller than golf balls. (This is easier to do with wet hands.) Roll them in the flour, shaking off any excess.
• Add enough canola oil to come up a third of the way in a large shallow saute pan or skillet and heat over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the meatballs in batches, turning once, until cooked through but still moist inside, about 5 minutes. (Cut one open if you are unsure of doneness.) Remove to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.
• Arrange the meatballs on a serving platter. Grind some fresh pepper over the top, then sprinkle on some torn mint leaves and the lemon zest. Drizzle with some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Serve the lemon wedges on the side.