At-Home Sicilian Meatballs. The Shape May Surprise You!

When it comes to authentic cooking, the internet seems to be flooded with recipes and ideas making it hard to decipher a truly authentic recipe from an Americanized one. While personal touches are always great, sometimes, there is something to be said about sticking to what our ancestors knew. At Cellos Farmhouse Italian, authentic cuisine is what we do. With this in mind, we also understand that it’s not always possible to sneak out for dinner – but that shouldn’t mean you miss out on some of the most delicious food around!

Here, our family provides a recipe for authentic Sicilian meatballs. A perfect dinner solution for those nights at home!

What’s so unique about Sicilian meatballs anyway?

Before we jump into the recipes, we’d like to take a moment to clarify one of the most frequently asked questions here at Cellos. When customers order our meatballs, they often ask about the difference between Sicilian and regular meatballs. The answer lies not with the protein used, but instead with the spices and other ingredients. For instance, one of the most distinguishing features of a Sicilian meatball is the incorporation of pine nuts and currents! Hang with us, we promise it will be worth it in the end!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of your favorite ground meat, or combination of. This may include beef, veal, and/or pork.
• 2 ½ cups of bread crumbs
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 ¼ cup Parmigiano and Romano cheeses
• Freshly chopped parsley
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• ½ cup dried currants or raisins
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Begin by placing your bread crumbs in a bowl. Pour the milk over the crumbs and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl combine the meat with eggs, cheese, garlic, oil, salt and pepper, parsley, pine nuts, and currants. If time allows, cooking your gently cooking garlic in olive oil first provides a more enhanced flavor.
3. Squeeze any excess milk from the bread crumb mixture into the meat mixture and gently combine the ingredients.
4. Shape into approximately 2 dozen oval meatballs, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake at 400 degrees for 15 -20 minutes depending on the size of your meatballs.

Oval meatballs?

Yes, you read that correctly! While most meatballs are served round, traditional Italian meatballs are made into oval shapes. This alternative shape allows for the meatballs to cook faster. Further, depending on how you intend to serve them, the flatter shape can often make for an easier experience!

When it comes to authentic Italian cuisine, there’s no better place than Cellos Farmhouse Italian! Stop in and experience the region’s best, most authentic, and always welcoming Italian restaurant! You can find Cellos at 143 Raymond Road in Candia, NH.

See you soon, friends!