Tasty red radicchio meatballs, very easy to prepare, soft and flavorful… they are quickly made and baked with just a drizzle of oil. They are excellent as a main course but can also be served as an appetizer, along with cold cuts, cheeses, or sauces. To make them even more delicious, I added minced mortadella to the dough, which you can omit or replace with cooked ham. Try this recipe, it’s very easy but really appetizing!
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economic
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 15Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stove
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter and Spring
- Energy 215.85 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 22.92 (g) of which sugars 1.15 (g)
- Proteins 10.21 (g)
- Fat 9.50 (g) of which saturated 3.61 (g)of which unsaturated 5.05 (g)
- Fibers 1.82 (g)
- Sodium 616.98 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 7 oz radicchio
- 4 oz white bread loaf (or whole grain)
- 4 oz mortadella (or cooked ham)
- 1 egg
- Grana Padano cheese
- breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic
- herbs (oregano, parsley or others)
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Bowl
- Food processor
- Frying pan
Preparation
Clean the radicchio, wash it and cut it into thin strips.
Cook it in a frying pan, with a drizzle of oil, a clove of garlic, and a pinch of salt (1). A few minutes will be enough, just the time to wilt it and dry it from its water.
Place the broken pieces of bread and mortadella in a food processor. Chop them for a few seconds, then transfer them to a bowl.
Add the cooked radicchio, beaten egg, half a tablespoon of Grana, salt, pepper, and a handful of aromatic herbs to taste (2).
Mix with your hands until you get a homogeneous mixture, soft but not too sticky. If necessary, add a tablespoon of breadcrumbs to dry it.
With your palms, form round meatballs and roll them in breadcrumbs.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and drizzle them with a little oil (3).
Place the meatballs in a convection oven at 375°F and bake for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they are golden brown on the surface.
The radicchio meatballs are ready, you can serve them either hot or at room temperature and they are also great with appetizers.
Tips and notes
You can also cook the meatballs in an air fryer at 360°F for 12-15 minutes. Or you can fry them in a pan with seed or olive oil, being careful not to break them (they are very soft).
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge and reheat them the next day.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I omit the mortadella?
Of course, you can replace it with other cold cuts or omit it entirely if you want vegetarian meatballs.
Which radicchio can I use?
You can use early or late Treviso red radicchio, Chioggia radicchio, or Verona radicchio, depending on your taste and availability.
