Tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers

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Tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers
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Calories per serving
  • Energy Kcal 728
  • Carbohydrates g 60.6
  •   of which sugars g 3.3
  • Protein g 28.1
  • Fats g 38.4
  •   of which saturated fat g 13.78
  • Fiber g 3.2
  • Cholesterol mg 194
  • Sodium mg 1438
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Prep time: 30 min
  • Cook time: 25 min
  • Serving: 4
  • Cost: Average

PRESENTATION

Tagliatelle with meatballs is not your run-of-the-mill pasta night—it’s something special. For real. In central and northern Italy, sausage meatballs and fresh pasta are staples, but toss in those tender zucchini flowers? And you've got a dish that’s way more than the sum of its parts. The sausage, with its bold, moist flavor, really really packs a punch, way more than your average beef meatball. Plus, those flowers? They add a pop of color and a mild, sweet touch that soaks up all the goodness from the sauce. It is the kind of meal where every bite feels indulgent—like a relaxing Sunday lunch with friends. Seriously, this tagliatelle with meatballs gets folks excited because it’s just so satisfying and, honestly, a lot of fun to eat.

Across Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, you’ll find folks putting their own spin on this zucchini flowers recipe. Some sprinkle in a bit of nutmeg to the sausage; others go for extra herbs. But here's the thing, everyone agrees on one thing: fresh homemade tagliatelle is a must. That chewy, tender pasta absorbs every drop of savory sauce and makes those little meatballs pop. Plus, the golden zucchini blossoms break into these soft ribbons that wrap around the pasta, giving you a bit in every bite. Honestly, dishes like this show why Italian pasta dishes are adored—bold flavors, lots of variety, and a focus on fresh ingredients. And listen, serving up a plate of tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers is basically an invitation for everyone to dig in and share stories over great food. Whether you’re deep into traditional Italian recipes or just feel like trying something new, this is one of those meals that always feels a little bit special. Grab a fork and dive into the rich flavors of Italy! Pretty much a no-brainer.

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INGREDIENTS

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Calories per serving
Ingredients for the tagliatelle
Egg Tagliatelle pasta 10.6 oz (300 g)
Grana Padano PDO cheese 1.8 oz (50 g) - (to grate)
Zucchini flowers 6
Black pepper to taste
For the meatballs
Sausage 0.7 lb (300 g)
Eggs 1 - medium
Parsley to taste
Sweet Paprika 1 tsp
Thyme 2 sprigs
Fine salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
For the sauce
Garlic 1 clove
Extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp (30 g)
Butter 1 ½ tbsp (20 g)
Tomato paste 1 spoonful
White wine 0.7 cup (160 g)
Preparation

How to prepare Tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers

To prepare tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers, start with the meatballs. Peel the sausage 1, place it in a bowl, and mash it with a fork 2. Add the egg 3,

perfume with a sprig of chopped parsley 4, sweet paprika 5, and strip the thyme leaves 6,

finally add the breadcrumbs 7, salt, and pepper, and mix everything well 8. Begin forming meatballs no larger than a cherry 9.

Prepare the sauce. In a saucepan, brown a clove of garlic in the oil, add the butter 10, add the tomato paste 11, and pour in the meatballs 12.

Let them brown well, but don't turn them too often 13, and when they are well browned, deglaze with white wine 14. Lower the temperature and simmer for 15 minutes 15.

Take advantage of this time to clean the zucchini flowers: remove the stems 16 and the pistil inside 17. Open the flower and make sure there is no dirt inside; if there is, simply clean it with a brush or a clean napkin. Then cut into strips 18.

Then boil the tagliatelle in salted boiling water 19, when they are al dente, drain them into the pan 20, add the zucchini flower strips 21

and toss briefly 22. Plate and season with Grana Padano PDO and black pepper to taste 23. Here are your tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers ready, enjoy your meal 34!

Storage

It is recommended to consume tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers immediately; alternatively, you can store them for a maximum of one day in the refrigerator.

Freezing is not recommended.

Tip

Do you want a vegetarian version of your tagliatelle with meatballs and zucchini flowers? Well, prepare eggplant meatballs! If you're looking for a gluten-free alternative, we have that too: instead of pasta, use rice noodles, paying attention to the cooking time of the pasta.

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