Eggless ricotta meatballs are a light, tasty, and very versatile dish from Italian cuisine, perfect as a main course, paired with vegetables like pesto zucchini or pan-fried spinach, or as an appetizer in smaller portions.
They are soft and delicate meatballs, prepared with fresh ricotta, grated cheese, and bread. Unlike classic meatballs, these have a softer consistency and a golden crust on the outside thanks to baking or air fryer cooking. You can find both cooking methods at the end of the recipe, so you can choose your preferred one.
You can also serve the ricotta meatballs with tomato sauce to make them even more delicious.
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DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 12 oz sheep ricotta
- 3.5 oz grated Grana Padano cheese
- 5 cups white sandwich bread
- 6 leaves basil
- 1 spray olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- breadcrumbs (as needed)
Recommended Tools
- Air Fryer dual resistance 6 liters
- Air Fryer dual resistance, 12-liter oven
Steps for Eggless Ricotta Meatballs
First, drain the ricotta.
Put the crumbled and shredded bread in a bowl with the chopped basil and Grana cheese, then mix well with your hands. At this point, add the ricotta, a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, and mix with your hands until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. If you prefer, you can also use a blender.
Take some mixture, roll it between your hands to form balls and place them on a plate.
Spray them with a little oil and place them on the grill of the air fryer and cook them at 356°F for 13 minutes, then turn them and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
If you prefer, you can place them on a tray lined with parchment paper and cook them in a preheated oven at 392°F for 20-22 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
Once cooked, place them on a plate and let them cool slightly before serving.
First, drain the ricotta.
Put the bread, basil, and Grana cheese in the bowl, then blend for 20 seconds at speed 7. Scrape down the sides with the spatula, then add the ricotta, a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, and mix for 20 seconds at speed 4.
Take some mixture, roll it between your hands to form balls and place them on a plate.
Spray them with a little oil and place them on the grill of the air fryer and cook them at 356°F for 12 minutes, then turn them and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
If you prefer, you can place them on a tray lined with parchment paper and cook them in a preheated oven at 392°F for 20-22 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
Once cooked, place them on a plate and let them cool slightly before serving.
Notes
You need to obtain a mixture that holds together: if you use a watery ricotta and the mixture is too soft, add a little breadcrumbs.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use cow’s milk ricotta?
Yes, of course. You will get meatballs with a very delicate flavor.
