Anna And Frankie's Meatballs

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground veal
• 1/2 lb ground lamb
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1/2 clove garlic, peeled and minced,i use 1 clove (optional)
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups italian breadcrumbs, method follows
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Recipe

• 1 bread crumbs: unless you make your own bread crumbs, you won't be following rao's kitchen tradition.
• 2 use the finest quality italian bread you can find.
• 3 allow it to dry for at least two days.
• 4 then grate, using a handheld grater or a food processor fitted with a metal blade.
• 5 shake and push the bread crumbs through a medium strainer to get an even texture.
• 6 meatballs: combine beef, veal, and lamb in a large bowl.
• 7 add eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• 8 using your hands, blend ingredients together.
• 9 blend bread crumbs into meat mixture.
• 10 slowly add water, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture is quite moist.
• 11 shape the mixture into balls (approximately 2 1/2 to 3-inches in diameter.).
• 12 heat oil in a large saute pan.
• 13 when oil is very hot but not smoking, fry meatballs in batches.
• 14 when bottom 1/2 of meatball is very brown and slightly crisp, turn and cook top 1/2.
• 15 remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
• 16 lower cooked meatballs into simmering marinara sauce and cook for 15 minutes.
• 17 serve over pasta or on their own.