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Tricolor Meatballs

17/11/2023

Tricolor meatballs are a fun way to celebrate the colors of the Italian flag even in a simple dish like meatballs. Here is a recipe you can follow to make tricolor meatballs at home.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground meat (beef or chicken, depending on preference)
  • 100 g of fresh spinach (green)
  • 100 g of grated cheese (white, such as mozzarella or Parmesan)
  • 1-2 ripe tomatoes or a few tablespoons of tomato paste (red)
  • 1 egg
  • Breadcrumbs, as needed
  • Salt and pepper, as needed
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

  1. For the green part, boil the spinach in boiling water for a few minutes, drain and squeeze well to remove all the water. Finely chop the cooked spinach.

  2. For the white part, if you’re using mozzarella, cut it into small cubes; if you’re using grated cheese like Parmesan, keep it ready for use.

  3. For the red part, if using fresh tomatoes, wash and dice them, removing the seeds. If you prefer tomato paste, you will have a more concentrated color and a stronger flavor.

  4. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, add salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Divide the meat mixture into three equal portions. Into one portion, incorporate the chopped spinach; in the second, add the cheese; and in the third, mix in the tomatoes or tomato paste.

  6. Take a bit of the mixture from each of the three portions and form small meatballs trying to keep the colors separate. Roll the meatballs in breadcrumbs.

  7. In a pan, heat oil with a clove of garlic and fry the meatballs until they are golden brown. You can also choose to bake them in the oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking for a lighter version.

  8. Serve the tricolor meatballs hot, perhaps accompanied by a tomato sauce or a basil sauce.

Trivia

Tricolor meatballs combine the typical flavors of Italian cuisine in just one bite. It can be fun to serve them during national holidays or sports events for a touch of patriotic spirit in the menu! Remember that you can always play with the ingredients, for example by adding aromatic herbs to enhance the flavor even more.

Tricolor Meatballs