Parmesan Meatball Bake
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1/4 cup mixed herbs - parsley, basil and oregano (any will do) - chopped
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Chili flakes
- 1 red onion - halved and sliced into small wedges
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes on the vine if available or loose
- 2-3 T capers
- 3 garlic cloves - thinly sliced
- Olive oil or other preferred cooking oil
- Parmesan curls or grated - garnish
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Preparation:
Make the meatballs - In a medium bowl combine ground beef, parmesan, breadcrumbs, ricotta, egg, 2 minced garlic, fresh herbs, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper and a pinch of chili flakes - mix together and then form into 1 1/2 inch balls. Set aside on a sheet pan. Prepare onion, capers, tomatoes, and garlic and toss with a bit of oil, salt and pepper.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large skillet - over medium high heat, add oil and saute meatballs for 1-2 minutes to brown. Shake pan to rotate meatballs and brown a few more minutes followed by one more time - so most sides are brown. Transfer them to one end of a sheet pan. Add onion mixture and tomatoes to the other end. Place in the oven and cook for 10 minutes then rotate and cook for another 5-10 minutes until meatballs are cooked and the tomatoes and onions are softened and caramelized a bit. Remove from oven and transfer to a serving dish (or serve on sheet pan). Garnish with parmesan curls and basil, a pinch of red pepper flakes and salt. Serve with crusty bread. Serves 4.