Italian Beef and Spinach Meatballs
These delightful Italian Beef and Spinach Meatballs are sure to impress my husband’s Italian relatives! I managed to incorporate some spinach into the meatball mixture, and I assure you that even the most discerning palates will adore them!
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Ingredients
- 2 slices whole wheat light bread
- 1 lb 93% lean ground beef
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 3 cloves smashed garlic
- 28 oz can Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 onion
- salt and pepper
- 10 oz frozen chopped spinach
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- 1
Moisten the bread with just enough water (or milk) to soak it, then crumble it using your hands until it’s well broken down.
- 2
Transfer the crumbled bread into a large mixing bowl, then incorporate the minced beef, chopped spinach, egg, minced garlic, parsley, grated cheese, salt, and pepper. Blend all ingredients thoroughly until they are evenly mixed.
- 3
Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop out the meat mixture and split it in half, ensuring each meatball is approximately 1/8th of a cup. Shape the mixture into small meatballs.
- 4
For the sauce, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- 5
Once the oil is hot, add the crushed garlic.
- 6
When the garlic turns golden brown, which should take about 1 to 2 minutes, stir in the tomatoes, onion, salt, and pepper. Cover the pot and lower the heat to simmer.
- 7
In the meantime, pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large nonstick skillet and set the heat to low.
- 8
When the oil is warmed, add as many meatballs as will comfortably fit in the pan. Cook them on low heat, turning frequently to ensure all sides are browned. Continue cooking until the meatballs are cooked through in the center.
- 9
Once cooked, transfer the meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Add the meatballs to the sauce and continue cooking the remaining meatballs in batches, following the same procedure. After all the meatballs have been added to the sauce, allow them to simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Remove the onion before serving.