Oven-Baked Meatballs

Oven-baked meatballs are a classic comfort food and can be customized in many ways. Here is a basic recipe to prepare delicious Italian-style oven-baked meatballs:

Ingredients

• 500 g ground meat (beef, pork, or a mix of the two)
• 1 egg
• 50 g breadcrumbs
• 50 g grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• Chopped parsley to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)
• 150 ml milk
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, soak the breadcrumbs in the milk until fully absorbed.
2. Add the ground meat, egg, grated Parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste to the bowl.
3. Mix the ingredients well with your hands until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
4. Shape into balls of the desired size using hands lightly greased with oil.
5. Arrange the meatballs on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, ensuring there is some space between each one.
6. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
7. Bake the meatballs for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden and cooked to your desired doneness. You can turn them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.

Trivia

Meatballs are a very versatile dish and can be adapted to many different tastes. In the most purely Italian version, pecorino is often added to the meat mix, or a cube of mozzarella can be inserted inside each meatball for a surprising, stringy center. Additionally, they can be served with tomato sauce for an even more traditional touch.

Enjoy your meal!