Minestrone Meatballs

Minestrone meatballs are a great way to use leftover minestrone to create a tasty and original dish. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 grams of leftover minestrone (already cooked)
• 1 egg
• 100 grams of breadcrumbs
• 50 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Oil for frying (if you prefer to cook them in a healthier way, you can bake them in the oven)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the minestrone with the egg, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper until you have a homogeneous mixture.
2. Gradually add the breadcrumbs until the mixture is firm enough to form meatballs. If the mixture is too moist, add more breadcrumbs. If it is too dry, you can add a little more minestrone.
3. Form small meatballs with your hands, roll them in flour, and shake off the excess.
4. In a pan, heat plenty of oil and, once hot, fry the meatballs until they are golden and crispy on all sides.
5. If you prefer a baked version, place the meatballs on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 20-25 minutes or until golden.
6. Once ready, remove the meatballs from the oil and let them dry on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Fun Facts

Minestrone meatballs are an example of recovery cooking, typical of Italian culinary traditions, where nothing is wasted and everything is reused creatively. In some variants, you can also add other cheeses, such as diced mozzarella, to have a melting heart, or enrich the mixture with aromatic herbs for an even richer flavor.