Italian Meatballs Recipe
by an Italian Mamma

Meatballs is a very popular dish in Venice Italy and this Italian meatballs recipe is pretty authentic. Exactly the way my mother makes it and you can't get any more authentic than my mother - that's my mamma and me in the photo.

I remember running in after school and getting a whiff of the simmering meatballs. Straight away I tried to sneak a taste only to be shooed away by my mamma with her wooden spoon. She always had a big smile on her face - she loved us enjoying her cooking.

Problem was if you didn't finish your plate then you would really hear it. I got to say though it never happened much. With my mamma's cooking one plate was NEVER enough!

My skinny husband could never get enough and boy can he eat. It was an epic battle - my mamma trying to fatten him up and him happy for her to bring it on.

Buon appetito
Maria

P.S. If you enjoy meatballs, Italian food and our recipe, please click like below

The way I like my meatballs, with a tomato sauce, was once not that common here, however, now you will find tomato sauces to be extremely popular throughout the Veneto.

If you'd like a simple tomato sauce recipe that you can adapt to meatballs, simply by leaving out the Parma ham, then check out this one.

Let's get on with the meatballs recipe then...

Ingredients

1 egg lightly beaten

2 slices Italian bread, broken into small pieces

1/2 Cup milk

2 Tblsp. finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

2 cloves finely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon salt

6 Tblsp. freshly grated Grana Padano cheese

1 pound of beef mince finely ground

1 Tblsp. olive oil

Ground black pepper

1 Tblsp. oregano

Instructions

• Soak the pieces of bread in 1/2 cup of milk for 5 minutes, then squeeze them dry. In a large mixing bowl, combine the soaked bread, the beaten egg and mix in the other ingredients.

• Knead the mixture with both hands or beat with a wooden spoon – hands are better as my mamma will gladly tell you. Keep at it until all the ingredients are well blended and the mixture is smooth and fluffy.

• Shape into balls about 1 and a 1/2 inches round. Lay the meatballs out on a baking tray, cover them with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.

• Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet. Fry the meatballs over a moderately high heat, keep the balls rolling all the time and keep them round.

• In 8 − 10 minutes, the meatballs should be brown outside and show no trace of pink inside.

• Add more oil to the skillet as needed. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly.

I serve mine with a tomato based sauce but I leave the choice of sauce up to you. You can use this one if you like - leaving out the Parma ham.

Enjoy your Italian meatballs recipe

For more great Italian recipes try the search engine below.

Print Recipe

You'll Enjoy These...

The Venice Food and Recipe Guide

Discover the great cuisine of the Veneto and Italy with us. You simply have to try our Cannoli recipe.. and hear the amazing story behind the recipe.
The Secret Cannoli Recipe of Zia Rosalinda

It took me years to get my aunt Rosalinda to share her authentic Sicilian cannoli recipe but... at last... I can let you in on the secret.
Authentic and Italian - Our Tiramisu Recipe

Need a tiramisu recipe? You won't find any better than this one - it is 100% authentic Italian.
Aperol Spritz - an Italian Summer in Every Glass

Can't get to Italy? Then bring a little Italy to wherever you are in this great big wonderful world with our Aperol spritz recipe.
Spaghetti Bolognese Does NOT Exist in Italy.

Spaghetti Bolognese does not exist in Italy; however, you'll be delighted to know that the real Italian version is far more delicious... and we have the recipe just for you.
Need a Good Restaurant in Padova?

So you need a good restaurant in Padova? Well, we've discovered just the place: a little family run restaurant serving traditional dishes in the heart of the old town.
Our Homemade Lasagna Recipe

I am Italian and here is the way I have always made lasagna. It is the way my mother taught me and this homemade lasagna recipe is something my family really love.
Best Veneto & Venice Restaurants - Cooking as Good as my Mamma's

These Veneto & Venice restaurants don’t cater for the tourist trade but to locals and you won’t find many of these restaurants in any guide book . What you will find are excellent restaurants
Discovered -The Best Italian Cookbook

I have spent ages searching for the best Italian cookbook translated into or written in English. Let me share the results of all those long hours of research - the four best Italian recipe books.
Which is the Best Italian Recipe?

Italy has some of the best recipes on earth, from Venice to Sardinia there is something to please all palates and I have begun a search to discover the best Italian recipe. This is the result…
The Best Luxury Hotels in Venice Italy

Which is the best of all the luxury hotels in Venice Italy? Read my insider’s guide and discover the answer. Awaiting you are not only the five best Venetian luxury hotels but...
Search our Site

Site search box for ItalyMammaMia.com and MiOMyItaly.com

Please Book with Us...

Maria here, if you enjoy my site and Facebook page I'd love your support.

Simply book your next trip anywhere (not only to Italy) with the search box below or with any of the hotel links on the website.

I promise you'll get the best deal on accommodation available and the income we receive from HotelsCombined helps us to:

Stay independent and to keep bringing you the best of Italy.
Never have to accept money from hotels directly; that way we can share only those we genuinely love.