Melting Spinach Meatballs

Preparing melting spinach meatballs is a great way to enjoy a dish rich in vegetables with a touch of indulgence provided by the melting cheese. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 500 g of fresh or frozen spinach
• 200 g of ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 50 g of breadcrumbs
• 100 g of mozzarella or other melting cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Nutmeg to taste (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil or seed oil for frying

Preparation

1. If using fresh spinach, wash them thoroughly and then blanch in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes. If using frozen spinach, cook them according to the instructions on the package. In both cases, once cooked, squeeze them well to remove all the excess water.

2. Finely chop the spinach and place them in a bowl. Add the ricotta, egg, grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt, pepper, and nutmeg if you like. Mix everything well until you get a homogeneous mixture.

3. Cut the melting cheese into small cubes.

4. Take some of the spinach mixture and flatten it on the palm of your hand, then place a cube of melting cheese in the center and close it to form a meatball. Make sure the cheese is completely covered by the mixture.

5. Heat plenty of oil in a frying pan and, when hot, fry the spinach meatballs until they become golden and crispy. For a lighter version, you can bake the meatballs in the oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Drain the meatballs on paper towels to remove excess oil.

7. Serve the meatballs hot to best enjoy the melting heart.

Fun Facts

Melting spinach meatballs lend themselves to multiple variations: you can add aromatic herbs like parsley or mint to give a fresher taste, or include other types of cheese such as fontina or gorgonzola for a more decisive flavor. Furthermore, if you prefer, you can make a variant without the egg by adding a little more breadcrumbs or flour to bind the mixture.