Breadcrumb Meatballs

Breadcrumb meatballs, or “bread meatballs”, are a simple and tasty dish that represents a perfect solution to creatively reuse stale bread. This is a classic recipe from the Italian recovery cuisine, similar to meatballs but without meat indeed. Here is how to proceed.

Ingredients

• 250 g of stale bread
• 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• Chopped fresh parsley
• 1 clove of garlic (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Milk as needed to soften the bread
• Breadcrumbs (if necessary, to reach the right consistency)
• Olive oil for frying

Preparation

1. Begin by breaking the stale bread into a large bowl and cover it with warm milk. Let it soften for about 20-30 minutes.
2. Once the bread has softened, squeeze it to remove the excess milk and transfer it to another bowl.
3. Add to the bread the eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and, if you wish, a finely chopped garlic clove. Salt and pepper according to your taste.
4. Mix the ingredients with your hands or with a spoon until you have a uniform mixture. If the mixture is too soft, you can add breadcrumbs to reach the desired consistency.
5. Take portions of the mixture and form meatballs the size of a walnut (or larger if you prefer).
6. In a frying pan, heat plenty of olive oil and, when hot, fry the meatballs until they become golden and crispy on all sides.
7. Once ready, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Interesting Facts

Breadcrumb meatballs can be served either as a main course with a fresh salad or as a tasty appetizer, perhaps accompanied by some marinara sauce or green sauce for dipping.

Being a versatile recipe, you can enrich the dough with other ingredients according to your tastes or availability, such as different cheeses, capers, anchovies, or finely chopped vegetables. Enjoy your meal!