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Mom’s Easy Traditional Italian Meatballs

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A healthier version of traditional Italian meatballs packed with high protein, perfect for meal prep and customizable for various dietary needs.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup Milk
  • 2 to 3 Slices Bread
  • 1 Pound Ground Beef (80% lean)
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
  • 1 Teaspoon Dried Basil
  • 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 to 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Cups Tomato Puree
  • 1 Teaspoon Basil (for sauce)
  • 1 Clove Garlic (for sauce)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt (for sauce)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 Teaspoons Oregano (for sauce)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 Cups Water

Instructions

  1. Soak the Bread: In a small bowl, soak the bread in the milk for about 5 minutes. Squeeze out excess moisture and crumble into small bits.
  2. Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the soaked bread with ground beef, eggs, parmesan cheese, and the dried spices. Mix gently to combine.
  3. Form the Meatballs: Using your hands, form the mixture into small balls about the size of golf balls.
  4. Brown the Meatballs: In a medium frying pan over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, carefully add the meatballs and brown on all sides for about 5-7 minutes.
  5. Prepare the Sauce: In a large deep pan, add olive oil, tomato puree, leftover spices, and water. Stir until well combined.
  6. Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Once browned, add meatballs to the sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
  7. Final Cooking: After 20 minutes, raise the heat to medium while slightly uncovering. Cook for an additional 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and meatballs are cooked through.
  8. Serve: Serve immediately, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy with crusty Italian bread or over spaghetti.

Notes

Substitute with lean ground turkey for a lighter version. Excellent for meal prep; freeze for easy meals.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian, meatballs, healthy, protein-packed, meal prep

Find it online: https://alexandrarecipes.com/moms-easy-traditional-italian-meatballs/