Best Polpettine Alla Griglia Sicilian Lemon Grilled Meatballs Recipes

POLPETTINE - ITALIAN HOUSEWIFE'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Chop garlic, celery leaves and potato.
• In a mixing bowl combine ground meat, bread crumbs, grated lemon peel, salt, chopped garlic, sage and celery leaves, potato, two tablespoons olive oil and the egg.
• Knead like bread dough and slowly add some milk to make a soft dough.
• The meat dough should be smooth and homogenous.
• Shape into 2 inch meatballs, flatten to about 1 1/2 inch thickness and fry in olive oil until golden brown.
• My aunt served them with a salad of cooked green beans and potatoes, seasoned with nothing but salt, pepper and savory and drizzled with olive oil.

POLPETTINE ALLA GRIGLIA (SICILIAN LEMON GRILLED MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients except the leaves, and make many slightly flattened meatballs small enough that you can wrap each in a leaf (use a toothpicks or skewers to keep them rolled).
• Grill the meatballs until done and squeeze with lemon before serving. (The leaves are not edible, so you may wish to wrap the leaves in a manner that will be quick to unwrap.).

GRILLED ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except pasta sauce in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
• If using charcoal- build your fire and make it low-medium heat, about 225-250°F Coat the grates with oil or non-stick spray.
• Shape mixture into balls slightly smaller than a baseball, but bigger than a golf ball and then set them aside. UPDATE: I started using a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the mixture and it makes the meatballs just the right size.
• Pour half of the sauce in a grill (oven) safe stock pot or roasting pan that will be large enough to hold all the meatballs. Place the pot/pan on the grill away from the direct heat when the fire is ready.
• When the grill is ready place the meatballs directly over the heat and sear on both the top and bottom for 3-5 minutes per side.
• When you are done searing the meatballs, place them away from the direct heat (I have a top rack on my grill and place them here).
• Let them cook for 5-8 more minutes or until the meatballs are firm, but not fully cooked and then place all the meatballs in the pot/pan and place that directly over the heat source.
• Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees F (you could also cut a meatball in half to make sure that the meat is no longer pink in the middle).

LEMON GRANITA

Steps:

• With a vegetable peeler remove zest in long pieces from 2 lemons. Squeeze 1/2 cup juice from lemons.
• In a small heavy saucepan heat water and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in zest and transfer syrup to a bowl to cool. Chill syrup, covered, until cold. Discard zest and stir in lemon juice.
• For eastern-Sicilian granita:
• Freeze lemon mixture in an ice-cream maker until spoonable but not crumbly and serve immediately.
• For western-Sicilian granita:
• Freeze lemon mixture in a metal bowl, stirring every 30 minutes to remove ice crystals from side of bowl, until liquid has become granular but is still slightly slushy, about 3 to 4 hours. Serve granita immediately.

LEMON MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoon of the oil over medium high heat.
• Add onion and garlic; cook 3-4 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper and the onion mixture; mix well.
• Form into 18 meatballs.
• In the same skillet, heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat.
• Add the meatballs and cook 15-20 minutes or until beef is no longer pink inside, turning occasionally.
• While the meatballs are cooking, prepare spaghetti according to package directions, drain and arrange on serving platter.
• Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• When meatballs are cooked, arrange them on top of spaghetti; add lemon juice to the skillet and stir to scrape drippings from the bottom of the pan; pour over meatballs and spaghetti.
• Sprinkle meatballs with parsley and lemon peel in desired, and serve.

OVEN-BAKED SICILIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and milk; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir in egg, cheese, onion, basil, pine nuts, currants, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Add in sausage; mix well.
• Shape mixture into 24 meatballs; place meatballs in a 15 x 10 inch baking pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink; drain off fat; serve with hot cooked spaghetti or if preparing as OAMC, cool meatballs.
• OAMC-line a rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper; transfer meatballs to the prepared baking sheet.
• Freeze about 30 minutes or until firm; place meatballs in a freezer bag.
• Seal, label, and freeze for up to 3 months.
• To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and add to your dish of choice until heated through.

SICILIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Mince or press the garlic, and chop the parsley into fine pieces (or you can cut the measurement and use dried parsley flakes).
• Grate the onion and place in a bowl.
• Add all of the ingredients above, except for the olive oil, and mix together in the bowl.
• Form balls into the size of golf balls and then dip your hand (or brush) in the oil and then rub it on the balls.
• Place on cookie sheet and brown at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• I usually add these to my marinara sauce, but you can eat them many other ways as well!