Description
Hearty christmas eve meatballs blend Swedish culinary traditions with festive comfort. Norwegian-inspired seasonings and rich marinara sauce create a delightful holiday meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 g) ground beef (or mix of beef & pork)
- 1 can (28 oz/794 g) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup (120 ml) red wine (or beef broth)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ tsp sugar
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bread Preparation: Soak breadcrumbs in milk, allowing them to soften and create a tender foundation for the meatballs.
- Meat Mixture: Blend ground beef, egg, garlic, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley into the breadcrumbs, mixing delicately to maintain a light texture.
- Shaping: Craft uniform meatballs, approximately 1½ inches in diameter, ensuring consistent sizing for even cooking.
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully browning meatballs on all sides to develop a rich, caramelized exterior. Transfer to a holding plate.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, sauté onions until translucent, then add garlic and tomato paste, stirring to intensify flavors and create a robust base.
- Liquid Integration: Deglaze the pan with wine or broth, scraping up browned bits, then pour in crushed tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and a hint of sugar to balance acidity.
- Simmering: Allow sauce to reduce and develop complexity, then gently reintroduce meatballs, immersing them completely and continuing to cook until fully done.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, creating a vibrant herbal accent. Serve piping hot alongside pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread for a hearty, comforting meal.
Notes
- Bread Absorption Technique: Soak breadcrumbs in milk thoroughly to ensure meatballs remain incredibly moist and tender, preventing dry texture.
- Gentle Mixing Strategy: Handle meat mixture delicately with light, gentle folding to maintain soft, delicate meatball structure and avoid compact, tough results.
- Consistent Size Cooking: Use uniform meatball sizing (1½ inches) for guaranteed even cooking, preventing undercooked or overcooked portions in the batch.
- Temperature Control Hack: Maintain medium heat during searing to develop golden-brown exterior without burning, creating perfect caramelized crust while keeping interior juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg