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Tagliatelle with Meatballs and Zucchini Flowers

17/11/2023

The recipe for tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers is a delightful blend of egg pasta and meat, enriched by the delicacy of zucchini flowers. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of egg tagliatelle
  • 200 g of ground meat (beef and pork mix)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Stale bread to taste
  • Milk to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Nutmeg to taste
  • 8-10 zucchini flowers
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Meat or vegetable broth (if needed)
  • Breadcrumbs (if necessary)

Preparation

  1. Let’s prepare the meatballs: in a bowl, put the ground meat, egg, grated Parmesan, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Add the stale bread previously soaked in milk and well-squeezed. Mix all the ingredients until you get a homogeneous mixture. If the mixture is too sticky, you can add a little breadcrumbs, if it’s too dry, a bit of broth or milk.

  2. Shape small meatballs from the mixture, about the size of a hazelnut.

  3. In a pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add a clove of garlic to flavor. Remove the garlic as soon as it is golden and add the meatballs.

  4. Cook the meatballs, turning them frequently until they are golden brown and cooked inside. If needed, add a bit of broth to prevent them from drying out.

  5. Clean the zucchini flowers by removing the pistil and slice them into strips.

  6. Add the zucchini flowers to the meatballs and let them flavor for a couple of minutes.

  7. Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil and cook the tagliatelle al dente.

  8. Drain the pasta, keeping a little of the cooking water, and pour it into the pan with the meatballs and zucchini flowers. If necessary, add a bit of the cooking water to bind everything together.

  9. Toss the pasta in the pan for a few minutes so that it is well flavored.

  10. Serve hot, with a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.

Curiosity

Tagliatelle is a classic of Emilian cuisine, which pairs well with rich sauces. The addition of zucchini flowers, typical of lighter, summery Italian cuisine, creates a perfect marriage between tradition and freshness. The meatballs make the dish hearty and pleasantly rustic.