Kofta (Middle Eastern meatballs)
- Easy
- 40 min
Imagine the smell of meatballs with bell pepper sauce wafting through your kitchen. Really, it’s like you're in Southern Italy. This dish—popular in Campania and Calabria—puts a delicious spin on classic polpette. And look, instead of the usual tomato, this recipe uses a creamy and slightly sweet pepper sauce that really, really stands out.
The bell peppers? They are cooked until tender, mingling with the juices from the meatballs. It creates this flavor that's unique, yet super comforting. Some folks even tuck cheese inside for a melting surprise—which is awesome, but the real magic is how those peppers enhance the dish's aroma and taste. Perfect when you want something special yet connected to Italian home cooking.
You know, for Sunday dinners or big family gatherings, these meatball recipes are the bomb. The fun part is taking a break from the usual marinara and trying something fragrant and just a little tangy. Southern Italy's bell pepper sauce recipes aren’t just about peppers. Nope, they add sweetness and a gentle acidity, turning each bite into something so, so good. And here's the thing, this sauce stays light and fresh—way, way better than heavy meals. It leaves the dish moist and less filling than other homemade meatballs.
Even if you are a die-hard fan of tomato sauces, this sweet and sour pepper sauce is a fun twist. Seriously, it keeps everyone coming back for more. Exploring flavors like these really shows how amazing Italian cuisine is. With dishes like this, you might just find a new favorite for your table, proving there's always another delicious way to enjoy polpette. For sure.
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To make the meatballs with pepper sauce, first wash and clean the peppers by removing the top and the seeds inside 1, then cut them into small pieces 2. Clean and slice the onion 3.
In a pan, pour a little extra virgin olive oil, brown a clove of garlic inside 4, and as soon as it begins to brown, add the onions first 5 and let them fry for a few minutes, then also add the peppers 6.
Season with basil 7 and adjust the salt. Let it stew covered with a lid for about 20 minutes 8, keeping it moist with a little hot water as needed. In a separate bowl, soak the whole wheat bread in water 9.
In another bowl, mix the ground meat, sausage without casing 10, parsley 11, and Parmesan cheese 12.
At this point, also add the egg 13, the squeezed bread 14, and a pinch of salt, mix everything until you form a homogeneous mixture 15.
Form meatballs weighing about 1 oz each 16, you will get about 30. Heat a little oil in a pan 17, brown the meatballs 18.
Turn them when they are golden 19 and continue until cooking is complete, it will take about 5-6 minutes. When they are all ready, pour the peppers into the glass of a blender 20, blend with the immersion blender until you get a cream 21.
In a serving dish, place the pepper sauce 22 and on top arrange the meatballs 34. Enjoy the meatballs with pepper sauce immediately.