Sardine meatballs: the simple and delicious Sicilian recipe

Step 1

First, place the well-rinsed and drained sardines in a food processor. Chop until you get a homogeneous pulp1.

step 2

Then place the chopped sardines in a large bowl and add the eggs, pine nuts and raisins2.

step 3

Also add grated pecorino and breadcrumbs3, then start mixing the ingredients.

Step 4

Prepare chopped mint, parsley and two cloves of garlic separately and add to the remaining ingredients4.

Step 5

Finally, season with salt and pepper and mix well with a wooden spoon5. If the mixture seems too soft, add a tablespoon or two of breadcrumbs.

Step 6

Now take small amounts of dough and form meatballs by rolling them between your palms6.

Step 7

Then roll the meatballs in rice flour7: The flour not only makes the meat crispy and dry, it also seals it and ensures a soft and not dry interior.

Step 8

Heat some peanut oil in a pan and fry a few meatballs at a time, taking care not to lower the temperature of the oil too much. Cook them for a few minutes, just until they are golden brown on both sides8: they will finish cooking in the sauce.

Step 9

While the meatballs are frying, heat the sauce you prepared previously, which only involves adding the garlic sautéed in a pan with a little extra virgin olive oil, tomato paste and a few chopped mint leaves.

Dilute it with half a glass of water (the meatballs tend to dry out when cooking) and when it is hot, add the meatballs, draining off the excess frying oil. Continue cooking over moderate heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and being careful not to break them9.

Step 10

Your sardine meatballs are ready: serve them in individual bowls with the sauce, decorate the dish with a few mint leaves and serve with fresh slices of bread10.

Advice
For an easier preparation, you can cook the sardine meatballs in the oven : place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper, season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and cook at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

If you want to try the sweet and sour version, simmer a thinly sliced onion and then mix it with half a glass of white wine vinegar mixed with two teaspoons of sugar. Once ready, mix the meatballs with the sweet and sour onion and serve

←precedente prossima→

Step 1

First, place the well-rinsed and drained sardines in a food processor. Chop until you get a homogeneous pulp1.

step 2

Then place the chopped sardines in a large bowl and add the eggs, pine nuts and raisins2.

step 3

Also add grated pecorino and breadcrumbs3, then start mixing the ingredients.

Step 4

Prepare chopped mint, parsley and two cloves of garlic separately and add to the remaining ingredients4.

Step 5

Finally, season with salt and pepper and mix well with a wooden spoon5. If the mixture seems too soft, add a tablespoon or two of breadcrumbs.

Step 6

Now take small amounts of dough and form meatballs by rolling them between your palms6.

Step 7

Then roll the meatballs in rice flour7: The flour not only makes the meat crispy and dry, it also seals it and ensures a soft and not dry interior.

Step 8

Heat some peanut oil in a pan and fry a few meatballs at a time, taking care not to lower the temperature of the oil too much. Cook them for a few minutes, just until they are golden brown on both sides8: they will finish cooking in the sauce.

Step 9

While the meatballs are frying, heat the sauce you prepared previously, which only involves adding the garlic sautéed in a pan with a little extra virgin olive oil, tomato paste and a few chopped mint leaves.

Dilute it with half a glass of water (the meatballs tend to dry out when cooking) and when it is hot, add the meatballs, draining off the excess frying oil. Continue cooking over moderate heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and being careful not to break them9.

Step 10

Your sardine meatballs are ready: serve them in individual bowls with the sauce, decorate the dish with a few mint leaves and serve with fresh slices of bread10.

Advice For an easier preparation, you can cook the sardine meatballs in the oven : place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper, season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and cook at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

If you want to try the sweet and sour version, simmer a thinly sliced ​​onion and then mix it with half a glass of white wine vinegar mixed with two teaspoons of sugar. Once ready, mix the meatballs with the sweet and sour onion and serve

Advice
For an easier preparation, you can cook the sardine meatballs in the oven : place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper, season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and cook at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

If you want to try the sweet and sour version, simmer a thinly sliced onion and then mix it with half a glass of white wine vinegar mixed with two teaspoons of sugar. Once ready, mix the meatballs with the sweet and sour onion and serve