I’ve made meatballs a few times, but I never got around to posting a recipe for them. Finally I did a sampling of several recipes to see exactly what the common elements were and…well, improvised. I like my meatballs baked instead of fried – no need to add more oil.
1 1/2 c fresh bread crumbs
1/3 c milk
1 T olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 450° F. Combine everything except meat and egg in a large bowl and stir until just mixed. Add meat and egg and stir gently until just integrated. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Roll your meatballs gently and bake on the cookie sheet for 15-25 minutes (shorter if you’re simmering them in a sauce, longer if want them done all the way through). After taking meatballs out, place them on paper towels to drain for a couple of minutes. Makes about 24 golf-ball-sized meatballs.