Home-made Italian Meatballs

These meatballs are so flavorful and easy to make! The whole family will love them! Even those picky eaters.

Let's get into it!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Lean ground beef, I used 93/7

1 lb. Mild Italian ground pork

3 eggs

3 cloves garlic minced or grated

1/4 small white onion minced or grated

1/2 tbsp. basil

1/4tsp cayenne pepper

1/4tsp smoked paprika - this is essential

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

pinch of salt and pepper

Method:

Mix all of your ingredients really well into the meat using a wooden spoon before using your hands (the cold meat always makes my hands ache after a while). Once it's all incorporated, use your hands to actually punch the meat repeatedly while folding it in on itself. This will take about 3-4 minutes and you will notice it starts to become kind of gummy. Then you're done! Don't over do it or it will get rubbery. This just helps the proteins develop and bind to the fat, creating a more homogenous mixture. Using two hands roll 1-inch balls and set on a place until they are all ready. Note, you can use a little Pam or oil on your hands to help keep the meat from sticking too much :)

Preheat your oven to 375 F.

Get a large skillet hot over medium heat and coat with olive oil. Sear your meatballs on both sides for about 2 mins per side, you can also try and brown some of the outer portion. Place your meatballs into a baking dish and cover tightly with foil. We don't want any moisture escaping. Bake in the oven covered for 15 minutes and remove. Place your meatballs in your favorite sauce and let simmer for another 10-15 minutes or you can serve immediately. The meatballs will be cooked after the oven, the simmering just allows the sauce to work its magic and those meatballs to also impart some flavor to whatever sauce you are using.

Top with parmesan or mozzarella and enjoy!!

Thanks for reading :)