Mini Meatball Heroes Recipes

MEATBALL HEROES WITH QUICK-PICKLED GIARDINIERA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the giardiniera: Combine the vinegar, sugar, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the cauliflower and carrots and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper and celery and cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender, an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
• In a 1-quart mason jar, combine 1/2 cup of the pickling liquid with the olive oil. Strain the vegetables and spices and transfer to the mason jar. Seal and shake to combine. Set aside at room temperature to continue marinating while you make the heroes.
• For the meatball heroes: Finely dice 1 of the hoagie rolls into 1/4-inch pieces and put in a large bowl. Pour the milk over it and set aside to soak for 5 minutes.
• Add the ground meat, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, oregano, eggs, half of the garlic, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, a three-finger pinch of salt and a healthy crack of black pepper to the soaked bread and, using clean hands, delicately combine. Using wet hands, roll the meat mixture into fifteen 1 1/2-inch rounds (about 1/4 cup each), place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly golden and juicy, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• While the meatballs are baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the remaining garlic and cook until fragrant but still pale, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Slice the remaining 5 hoagie rolls in half lengthwise down the tops and place on a rimmed baking sheet. If the rolls are very bready, remove some of the insides to create a space for the meatballs to sit. Using a pastry brush or spoon, brush the garlic-butter mixture over the cut sides of the rolls. Bake until the rolls are golden, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce to a large pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup water to the jar of sauce, seal the lid, shake and pour into the pot; this will ensure you get every last drop. Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is warm and the meatballs are cooked through, an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
• Place 3 meatballs inside of each toasted hoagie roll, top with some steamy sauce, shower with the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, top with the giardiniera and parsley and enjoy immediately.

MINI MEATBALL HEROES

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: Whisk the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese and bread crumbs. Mix in the beef, veal, and pork. Using about 2 tablespoons of meat for each, shape the meat mixture into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a baking sheet.
• Heat the oil in heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Working in 2 to 3 batches, add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meatballs to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Return all the meatballs to the pan. Add the Marinara Sauce. Simmer over medium-low until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, about 10 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. (The meatball mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing.)
• To make the sandwiches: Spoon the hot meatballs with some sauce over the bottoms of the rolls. Place 1/2 slice provolone on top of meatballs and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Spread more sauce over the roll tops, then fold the tops of the rolls over and serve.
• In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

MEATBALL HERO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees;.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, toss onion, bell pepper, and zucchini with oil and oregano.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle vegetables with vinegar, and season with salt; toss to coat.
• Push vegetables to one side of pan; place meatballs on other end.
• Bake until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Serve in rolls.

EASY MEATBALL HERO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss onion, bell pepper, and zucchini with oil and oregano. Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle vegetables with vinegar, and season with salt; toss to coat. Push vegetables to one side of pan; place meatballs on other end.
• Bake until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Serve in rolls.

MINI MEATBALL HERO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Prepare a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl combine the first 9 ingredients (up to the marinara sauce) mix well with clean hands to combine, if the mixture is too soft then add in a bit more cornflake crumbs.
• Shape into 1-1/2-inch balls, then place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes or until cooked and browned.
• Bring the marinara sauce to a simmer on top of the stove.
• Add in the cooked mini meatballs and simmer for about 20 minutes (you can refrigerate this and then use the following day, just rewarm over low heat before using).
• With your fingers press down the bottom part of each bun to create a depression in the middle.
• Spoon about 5-6 meatballs into the depression and then spoon the sauce over to coat.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese, if desired.
• Place the tops of buns over and enjoy!

MINI MEATBALL HEROES BY GIADA

Steps:

• To make the meatballs, whisk the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl to blend.
• Stir in the cheese and bread crumbs.
• Mix in the meats.
• Using about 2 tablespoons meat for each, shape into 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch meatballs. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Working in batches, add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Drain off excess oil.
• Add the marinara sauce and simmer over medium-low heat until sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To make the sandwiches: spoon the hot meatballs with some sauce over the bottoms of the the rolls.
• Place 1/2 slice provolone on the top of meatballs and sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Spread more sauce of the rolls tops, the flod the tops of the rolls over and serve.