Monstrous Meatballs

Certainly! Monstrous meatballs are a fun and creative recipe, often prepared for themed parties such as Halloween or to entertain children with a playful dish. Here is how to make them, with an Italian touch to make them even more irresistible.

Ingredients

• 500 g of ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix)
• 1 egg
• 50 g of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped (optional)
• Chopped parsley to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs as needed
• Pitted black olives
• Cheese slices (for making teeth, eyes, etc.)
• Cherry tomatoes or red bell peppers (for making tongues, hats, etc.)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix the ingredients well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
2. Shape small meatballs out of the meat mix. If the mixture is too sticky, add some breadcrumbs to dry it out.
3. Prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper and arrange the meatballs, leaving some space between them.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes or until they are cooked through and slightly golden.
5. While the meatballs are in the oven, prepare the “monstrous accessories”. Cut the olives in half for eyes, carve the cheese to make sharp teeth, tongues from cherry tomatoes or bell peppers, and any other effective decorations.
6. Once the meatballs are cooked, let them cool for a few minutes, then have fun decorating them! Use a piece of cheese or an olive for the eyes, insert a tomato tongue between two ‘teeth’ of cheese, and you can also carve the meatballs to make it seem like they have a menacing smile or an open mouth.

Curiosity

Monstrous meatballs, in addition to being perfect for themed parties, are also a fun way to encourage children to eat a nutritious and homemade dish. Creative cooking is always a great strategy to combine usefulness with pleasure!