Meatballs with Cannellini Cream

Meatballs with cannellini cream is a comforting and hearty dish that combines the softness of meatballs with the delicacy of bean cream. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients for the meatballs:

• 500 g of ground meat (beef, pork, or mixed according to preference)
• 1 egg
• 50 g of breadcrumbs
• 30 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley to taste
• 1 clove of garlic (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil for frying

Ingredients for the cannellini cream:

• 400 g of cooked cannellini beans (if using dried ones, soak them overnight and then cook them)
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Rosemary or thyme for flavoring (according to taste)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the meatballs: in a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley (if you decide to use garlic, mix it in finely chopped or as a paste).
2. Mix all the ingredients well until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. If necessary, adjust the breadcrumbs to obtain the desired consistency.
3. Shape the mixture into walnut-sized meatballs and set aside.
4. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs until they are golden brown and cooked to the right point. You can also choose to bake them in the oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
5. While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the cannellini cream: in a saucepan, sauté the garlic clove in oil, then add the cannellini beans. Cook for a few minutes and then remove the garlic.
6. Blend the beans with a hand blender or in a mixer, adding a little water if necessary, until you get a smooth cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add some chopped aromatic herbs if desired.
7. Serve the hot meatballs over a bed of cannellini cream and garnish with a drizzle of oil and aromatic herbs.

Fun Fact

Meatballs are a very versatile dish and present in many culinary cultures around the world. In Italy, meatballs can be a main course or a second dish and are often served as part of pasta sauce. Using cannellini beans in cream is an excellent way to add protein and creaminess to the dish, and pairs very well with the flavor of the meatballs.