Rocket meatballs

Name: Rocket meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Veal (ground meat) 10.6 oz; Arugula 4 cups; Grana Padano PDO cheese to grate 1.5 oz; Eggs 1; Garlic 1 clove; Extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tbsp; Fine salt 1 pinch; Gluten free breadcrumbs 0.4 cup; Sunflower seed oil to taste; Arugula 3 ½ cups

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600

Calories per serving

Gluten Free
Lactose Free

Energy Kcal 600
Carbohydrates g 10.5
of which sugars g 1.2
Protein g 22.3
Fats g 52.1
of which saturated fat g 9.42
Fiber g 0.8
Cholesterol mg 108
Sodium mg 545

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Makes: 12 pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Mary Di Gioia

Arugula meatballs—they're really something else! Seriously good. Italian cooking at its creative best, I gotta say. Instead of using the usual pork or beef, these babies are made with veal. It's got that tender flavor Italians just love. And you know what? The spicy kick from the arugula is really really unique. Every bite has a peppery twist, unlike your typical meatball salad.

And here's the thing: in some Italian regions, folks get super creative, adding apples, lemon zest, or even pistachios to their meatballs. But here, it's all about the arugula. Plus, they've got gluten-free breading—pretty much perfect for anyone needing an alternative to regular breadcrumbs. Outside, they're crispy and golden, while the inside stays juicy. Seriously, just how a good polpette should be.

In many Italian homes, you often see arugula recipes like this as either an appetizer or the main dish at dinner. People love pairing them with an arugula salad—adding lemon and olive oil keeps it light and fresh. Quite different from those heavier pork meatballs or rich ricotta meatballs you're used to.

The blend of zesty arugula and delicate veal is kinda fancy but still super homey. So much room to play with flavors—grated cheese, a squeeze of lemon, or a pinch of nutmeg can add your own twist. That's the fun with Italian meatball variations; no two homes do it exactly the same.

Whether you're hunting for new meatball salad recipe ideas or just want something moist and unique, these arugula meatballs bring tons of flavor to the table. They fit perfectly with today’s trend of healthy meatball recipes—which is awesome—and give a modern twist to a traditional favorite. Next time you're up for something different, give these a whirl. Can't go wrong.

INGREDIENTS

600

Calories per serving

Ingredients for about 12 meatballs: Veal 10.6 oz (300 g) - (ground meat); Arugula 4 cups (80 g); Grana Padano PDO cheese 1.5 oz (40 g) - to grate; Eggs 1; Garlic 1 clove; Extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tbsp (20 g); Fine salt 1 pinch

For breading and frying: Gluten free breadcrumbs 0.4 cup (50 g); Sunflower seed oil to taste

For serving: Arugula 3 ½ cups (100 g)

Preparation

How to prepare Rocket meatballs

First, wash and dry the arugula, then finely chop it with a knife 1. In a pan, brown the garlic with a drizzle of oil, then add the arugula 2 and let it flavor for a few minutes, stirring often 3.

Pour the ground meat into a large bowl, then add the grated Grana Padano PDO cheese 4, the egg 5, and the arugula 6.

Add a pinch of salt 7 and mix well 8 until you obtain a homogeneous mixture 9.

Take a portion of about 1 oz of mixture and form meatballs 10, which you will place on a cutting board. After forming the meatballs, pour the breadcrumbs into a container and coat the meatballs evenly 11. At this point, heat plenty of seed oil in a pan and fry the meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side 12.

When they are well browned, drain the meatballs with a slotted spoon 13 and transfer to absorbent paper to remove excess oil 14. Serve your rocket meatballs on a bed of fresh arugula 15!

Storage

Rocket meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 days. You can freeze them before cooking, making sure to let them thaw in the fridge before frying.

Tip

As an alternative to frying, you can bake the meatballs in a ventilated oven at 400°F for about 20 minutes, adding a drizzle of oil. For an even tastier variant, enrich the mixture with diced bacon and chili!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Rocket meatballs

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Rocket meatballs

Storage

Tip

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