Savory Meatball Dinner with Pan-Fried Polenta and Broccoli Rabe

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 lb ground veal
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)

For the Sauce:

- 2 cups marinara sauce

For the Polenta:

- 1 cup polenta
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
- Salt to taste

For the Broccoli Rabe:

- 1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meatballs:

- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, pork, veal, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, breadcrumbs, water, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.

2. Cook the Meatballs:

- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about PT10M (10 minutes).
- Pour marinara sauce over the meatballs, reduce heat to low, and simmer for PT15M (15 minutes) until fully cooked.

3. Prepare the Polenta:

- In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add salt to taste.
- Slowly whisk in the polenta, reducing heat to low and stirring constantly until thickened, about PT10M (10 minutes).
- Spread the cooked polenta onto a greased baking sheet in an even layer to cool, approximately PT30M (30 minutes).
- Once cooled and firm, cut the polenta into squares.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the polenta squares until golden and crispy on both sides, about PT5M (5 minutes).

4. Cook the Broccoli Rabe:

- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the broccoli rabe for PT2M (2 minutes). Drain well.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the broccoli rabe, seasoning with salt and pepper, and sauté until tender, about PT5M (5 minutes).

Total Time

PT1H10M
1 hour and 10 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

meatballs, polenta, pan-fried, broccoli rabe, dinner, Italian, easy recipe, gourmet, savory, comfort food

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,000

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