Cooked ham meatballs with peas are a simple and tasty main course, perfect for the whole family. The meatballs are made with cooked ham and ricotta, which together create a soft and flavorful mixture; baking them keeps them light yet golden and appetizing.
They are accompanied by peas sautéed in a pan, whose sweetness turns the recipe into a complete and well-balanced main course. This is a quick and practical preparation, ideal for everyday cooking when you have little time but don’t want to give up something good.
Try them yourself and serve a tasty, wholesome main course that everyone will agree on!
If you love meatballs, take a look at these suggestions:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4 Servings
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stovetop
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 7 oz cooked ham
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 slices white sandwich bread
- 1 1/4 cups peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1 spring onion (scallion)
- oregano (or parsley)
- garlic powder (to taste)
- breadcrumbs
- extra-virgin olive oil
- salt
Tools
- Baking pan
- Frying pan
- Food processor
- Bowl
Preparation
With the help of a food processor, finely chop the cooked ham and the sandwich bread. Put them in a bowl, add the ricotta, the egg, a pinch of oregano, garlic powder to taste and salt (1).
Mix all the ingredients until you obtain a soft but compact mixture. With your hands, form balls and roll them in breadcrumbs.
Arrange them on a baking pan lined with parchment paper, and brush the tops with a little oil (2).
Place the meatballs in a fan-assisted oven at 374°F and bake them for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop the spring onion and soften it in a pan with a little oil. Add the peas, season with salt and moisten with a little hot water (3).
Let them cook over low heat until tender.
When the meatballs are ready, transfer them to the pan with the peas and let them absorb the flavors for a few minutes. You can add parsley or other herbs to taste.
The ham and pea meatballs are ready; serve them hot as a delicious main course.
Tips and notes
You can use either thinly sliced ham or ham from a joint.
You can add grated Parmigiano or any other cheese you like to the mixture.
You can use fresh or frozen peas.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I prepare the dish in advance?
Of course, you can cook both the meatballs and the peas in advance. Then simply reheat everything in a pan. Leftover meatballs (without the peas) can be frozen in a suitable container.
