Broccoli Rabe Meatballs

Broccoli rabe meatballs are a tasty and original way to enjoy the properties of this vegetable and pair it with a comforting dish like meatballs. Here is an Italian version of the recipe:

Ingredients

• 500 g broccoli rabe
• 200 g ground meat (beef or pork)
• 50 g stale bread
• 50 ml milk
• 1 egg
• 2 garlic cloves
• 50 g grated Parmesan
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Preparation

1. Start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Clean the broccoli rabe by removing the toughest leaves and overly thick stems, then cook them in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. After draining, squeeze them to remove as much excess water as possible and roughly chop them.

2. In a bowl, soften the stale bread in the milk, then squeeze and crumble it.

3. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, squeezed stale bread, egg, finely chopped garlic, Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste, and the chopped broccoli rabe. Mix well until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.

4. Take portions of the mixture and form meatballs of the desired size. Then roll them in breadcrumbs.

5. Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and, once hot, fry the meatballs until golden on all sides.

6. At this point, you can choose to serve them as is, crispy and golden, or continue cooking by adding some tomato passata to the pan and simmering for another 10-15 minutes over low heat.

Trivia

Broccoli rabe is a vegetable typical of southern Italy, particularly Puglian cuisine. They are known for their slightly bitter flavor and their nutritional properties, being rich in vitamins and minerals. In Italian cuisine, one of the most famous preparations featuring them is pasta with broccoli rabe.

Since this recipe combines vegetables and meat, it will be an excellent way to have a one-pot dish that balances greens and proteins in a delicious way. Enjoy your meal!