Meatball Hero Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the giardiniera: Combine the vinegar, sugar, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the cauliflower and carrots and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper and celery and cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender, an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
• In a 1-quart mason jar, combine 1/2 cup of the pickling liquid with the olive oil. Strain the vegetables and spices and transfer to the mason jar. Seal and shake to combine. Set aside at room temperature to continue marinating while you make the heroes.
• For the meatball heroes: Finely dice 1 of the hoagie rolls into 1/4-inch pieces and put in a large bowl. Pour the milk over it and set aside to soak for 5 minutes.
• Add the ground meat, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, oregano, eggs, half of the garlic, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, a three-finger pinch of salt and a healthy crack of black pepper to the soaked bread and, using clean hands, delicately combine. Using wet hands, roll the meat mixture into fifteen 1 1/2-inch rounds (about 1/4 cup each), place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly golden and juicy, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• While the meatballs are baking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the remaining garlic and cook until fragrant but still pale, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Slice the remaining 5 hoagie rolls in half lengthwise down the tops and place on a rimmed baking sheet. If the rolls are very bready, remove some of the insides to create a space for the meatballs to sit. Using a pastry brush or spoon, brush the garlic-butter mixture over the cut sides of the rolls. Bake until the rolls are golden, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce to a large pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup water to the jar of sauce, seal the lid, shake and pour into the pot; this will ensure you get every last drop. Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is warm and the meatballs are cooked through, an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
• Place 3 meatballs inside of each toasted hoagie roll, top with some steamy sauce, shower with the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, top with the giardiniera and parsley and enjoy immediately.

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix the breadcrumbs with the milk in a small bowl and rest for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumb mixture, the beef, feta, Parmesan, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and eggs. Portion the meatballs into 3-ounce balls (16 meatballs total), then roll in your hands and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the meatballs start to brown, 15 minutes.
• For the hero: Place the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and parsley in a bowl. Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice into the bowl and gently toss the vegetables to coat. Season the salad with salt and set aside.
• Split the hero rolls lengthwise three-quarters of the way through (one end should still be connected). Toast the inside of the rolls on a hot griddle. Place the cooked meatballs on the griddle to crisp the outside and heat through. Place 4 meatballs in a toasted hero roll, then dollop 2 ounces of the tzatziki over the top, and finish with some of the salad. Repeat for the remaining hero rolls, then serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, and salt and saute for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cut the bread into quarters crosswise and cut each quarter in half, being careful not to cut all the way through, so the 2 haves stay connected. Scoop the soft center out of the bread.
• Put the bread, open-faced, on a baking sheet. Place 1 meatball and some sauce on 1 side of each piece of bread. Top with some of the pepper mixture. Moisten the other side of each sandwich with a little sauce and sprinkle with the cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted, about 4 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees;.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, toss onion, bell pepper, and zucchini with oil and oregano.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle vegetables with vinegar, and season with salt; toss to coat.
• Push vegetables to one side of pan; place meatballs on other end.
• Bake until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Serve in rolls.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray heavy large baking sheet with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Combine ground beef, grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, chopped fresh parsley, crushed cornflakes, minced garlic, dried oregano, ground white pepper and salt in large bowl and blend thoroughly. Using moistened hands, shape meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch rounds and place on prepared sheet, spacing evenly. Bake meatballs until just firm to touch and cooked through, about 20 minutes
• Bring marinara sauce to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Add meatballs to sauce and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Gently press center of bottoms of rolls to compact slightly. Spoon 5 or 6 meatballs into depression in each roll. Spoon enough sauce over to coat. Place tops of rolls over and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss onion, bell pepper, and zucchini with oil and oregano. Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle vegetables with vinegar, and season with salt; toss to coat. Push vegetables to one side of pan; place meatballs on other end.
• Bake until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Serve in rolls.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400. Remove crusts from bread slices and discard. Tear remaining bread into small pieces and place in a small bowl. Pour milk over bread and let stand until liquid is almost absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine pork or veal, beef, soaked bread, onion, 1/4 cup Parmesan, the parsley, the garlic, the salt and the pepper until just combined. Form meat into golf-ball-size rounds. (You should have about 25 meatballs.) Meatballs can be formed up to 24 hours ahead, covered and refrigerated before frying.
• Fill a large skillet with 1/4-inch oil. Place over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, fry meatballs in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Transfer fried meatballs to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle one-third of the Parmesan over sauce. Scatter half the meatballs over the Parmesan and top with half the mozzarella pieces. Top with half of the remaining sauce, sprinkle with another third of the Parmesan, and repeat layering, ending with a final layer of sauce and Parmesan.
• Transfer pan to oven and bake until cheese is golden and casserole is bubbling, about 40 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before serving.