Meatballs and Fried Zucchini

17/11/2023

Here I describe how to prepare delicious meatballs and fried zucchini, a dish that combines the crunchiness of the vegetables with the succulence of the meatballs.

Ingredients for the meatballs:

500 g of ground meat (you can choose between beef, pork, or a mix of both)
1 egg
50 g of breadcrumbs
30 g of grated Parmesan cheese
2 finely chopped garlic cloves
Chopped parsley to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying

Ingredients for the fried zucchini:

3 medium zucchini
150 g of flour
Sparkling water to taste (about 200 ml)
Salt
Oil for frying

Preparation of the meatballs:

In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the egg, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Mix all the ingredients well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
Form small meatballs with your hands, coat them in breadcrumbs for additional breading, and set them aside.
Heat plenty of oil in a pan and, when hot, fry the meatballs until they are golden and crispy on all sides.
Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Preparation of the fried zucchini:

Cut zucchini into rounds or sticks.
Prepare a batter by mixing flour with sparkling water until the desired consistency is reached, similar to that of a frying batter (it should coat the back of a spoon). Add salt.
Dip the zucchini in the batter.
Fry the zucchini in hot oil until golden and crispy.
Drain and lay them on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.

Serve the meatballs and fried zucchini together, possibly accompanied by a sauce of your choice, such as tomato sauce or a yogurt and herb sauce.

Curiosity

This combination of fried meat and vegetables is very much appreciated because it combines two textures that are pleasant to the palate: the soft and juicy meatballs, and the crunchy batter-coated and fried zucchini. In Italy, meatballs are often served as a main course, perhaps with a side of vegetables; frying them together with the zucchini makes for a tasty and inviting single dish.