Damn Good Meatballs

These are damn good meatballs!!!

Those are the words that came out of my mouth after biting into these meatballs and that's how they got their name.

In my opinion a meatball should be tender and juicy. They should hold their shape while being delicate at the same time, and of course, be packed with flavor. That's what you can expect with these Damn Good Meatballs.

My notes to you...

• The trick to making these meatballs moist and tender is the addition of hot water. I can’t explain exactly how it works.  All I can tell you is that it works!

• I usually make my tomato sauce first so it will be ready and waiting for the meatballs when they come out of the oven.  The tomato sauce is pretty quick and if you have a Trader Joe’s near you I recommend using a can of their marinara sauce in place of the crushed tomatoes.  It will add a little more zip to your sauce.

• The meatballs won’t be fully cooked when they come out of the oven.  They need to simmer in the tomato sauce to finish cooking.  It’s important to brown the meatballs before adding them to the tomato sauce.  Don’t try to place the raw meatballs straight into the sauce it will not be good!  The browning releases a lot of the fat and it also helps the meatballs keep their shape.

• The worst part about making meatballs is that greasy sheet pan.  I remove that element by lining a sheet pan with foil for easy clean up.  Make sure you spray pan coating on the foil so your meatballs won’t stick. 

• An even better idea than baking these meatballs is to boil them. In 2017 I did an experiment out of curiosity and need and boiled the meatballs instead of oven bake them and I think they are even better. I have been cooking them this way ever since. This method allows the meatballs to cook all the way through ready to be sauced or cooled and put in your freezer in zip bags for easy dinners another time.

BOILED MEATBALLS

1          batch              DamnGood Meatballs (makes 16) recipe below

8          cups               water

1          Tbsp.              kosher salt

Gently place meatballs one at a time into the boiling water. Stir gently once or twice so they will cook evenly. Boil over med-high heat for 13-15 min. or until it is cooked through. Remove meatballs with a slotted spoon.

DAMN GOOD MEATBALLS (makes 16 meatballs)

2          pounds           ground beef

1/3       cup                 Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1          Tblsp.             dry parsley, (2 Tblsp. fresh)

½         cup                 parmesan cheese, grated

2          tsp.                 kosher salt

½         tsp.                 black pepper

1/8       tsp.                 nutmeg

1          large               egg

¾         cup                 warm water

In a large bowl add all the ingredients except the ground beef and mix well.

Break up the ground beef into the bowl and mix to blend. Making sure that the seasoning gets evenly mixed into the beef.

To make 16 even meatballs, divide the beef into 4. Make 4 meatballs with each section by rolling them in the palms of your hands.

Place the meatballs on a foil lined sheet pan sprayed with pan coating.

Bake them in a 425 degree oven for 12 min. and add them to the tomato sauce; simmer the meatballs in the sauce for 15 – 20 min. or until they are cooked through.

or... Boil your meatballs 

Easy TOMATO SAUCE

2              cloves                   garlic, minced

1              small                     onion, chopped

½             med                      carrot, grated (or ½ tsp. sugar)

2              Tbsp.                    tomato paste

1              28 oz. can            Italian whole peeled tomatoes

1              28 oz. can            Italian crushed tomatoes

1              cup                       water

1              tsp.                       dried basil

1              tsp.                       dried oregano

½             tsp.                       kosher salt

¼             tsp.                       black pepper

¼             tsp.                       crushed pepper (more if you like it spicy)

Place heavy bottom pot over med-high heat.  Add 1 Tbsp. oil to the pot along with the garlic, onions and carrots.  Stir to mix and lower heat; cook covered for about 5 minutes or until the onions are very soft.  Clear a spot in the middle of the pot and add tomato paste and let cook for about a minute.  Stir to mix; add the tomatoes (crush the whole ones with your hands), water, basil, oregano, salt and peppers.  Stir to mix and let simmer covered for 30 minutes.

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