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Meatballs alla cacciatora

17/11/2023

Meatballs alla cacciatora are a tasty variant of the classic meatballs, prepared with a flavorful tomato sauce. Here’s how to prepare this delicious dish.

Ingredients

  • 500g of ground meat (mix of veal and pork for a richer flavor)
  • 1 egg
  • 50g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Chopped parsley to taste
  • Flour, enough for dusting the meatballs
  • Extra virgin olive oil for frying

For the sauce:

  • 1 chopped onion
  • 1 carrot cut into cubes
  • 1 stalk of celery chopped
  • 400g of tomato purée
  • 1/2 glass of white wine
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Meat or vegetable broth if necessary
  • Aromatic herbs like rosemary or bay leaves, if desired

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, thoroughly mix the ground meat with the egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt, pepper, finely chopped garlic, and parsley. Stir until the mixture is homogeneous.

  2. Form the mixture into meatballs of the desired size and roll them in flour, shaking off any excess.

  3. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and fry the meatballs until they are evenly golden. Once ready, remove them from the pan and set them aside.

  4. In the same pan, add a little oil if necessary and sauté the chopped onion, carrot, and celery until they are soft and lightly golden.

  5. Deglaze with white wine and allow it to evaporate.

  6. Add the tomato purée, adjust salt and pepper, and, if liked, add aromatic herbs to taste.

  7. Return the meatballs to the pan with the sauce, cover, and cook over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, adding a little broth if the sauce reduces too much.

  8. Make sure the meatballs are cooked to the right point and the sauce has reached the desired consistency.

Curiosity

The term “cacciatora” refers to a rustic cooking method that traditionally involved the use of aromatic herbs and vegetables that hunters could easily find during their outdoor activities. This style of cooking is widespread in many Italian regional variations and usually includes a generous portion of tomato sauce.

Enjoy your meal!

Meatballs alla cacciatora