Meat and Potato Meatballs

Meat and potato meatballs are a rustic and tasty dish that is well suited as both a main course and an appetizer. Here is the recipe in Italian style:

Ingredients

• 500 g of ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
• 2 medium potatoes
• 1 egg
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs (about 50-70 g, as much as needed to obtain a compact mixture)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil for frying

Preparation

1. Peel the potatoes and cook them in boiling salted water until they are soft. Once cooked, drain them and mash them with a potato masher or a fork.

2. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the mashed potatoes, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, salt, and pepper to taste.

3. Mix all the ingredients well until you get a homogeneous mixture. If the mixture is too soft, add breadcrumbs until the desired consistency is achieved.

4. Take portions of the mixture and form meatballs the size of a walnut (or larger if you prefer).

5. Heat the oil in a large pan and, when it is hot, fry the meatballs until they are well browned on all sides. Do not overload the pan to allow for even cooking.

6. Once cooked, transfer the meatballs onto paper towels to remove the excess oil.

Curiosity

The meatballs have their origin in ancient Rome, where they were called “isicia omentata.” They were preparations of minced meat mixed with various ingredients and spices, then cooked on the fire or roasted. Today meatballs are present in a multitude of variants all over the world, each with its own particularity.

Enjoy your meal!