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Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni

Mario Batali

Recipe copyright Mario Batali, 2002. All rights reserved

Show: Molto MarioEpisode: Scapece

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (7)

  • Cook Time:

    45 min

  • Level:

    Intermediate

  • Yield:

    4 to 8 servings

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Times:

Prep
20 min
Inactive Prep
30 min
Cook
45 min
Total:
1 hr 35 min
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound finely ground lean veal
  • 1/2 pound finely ground lean beef
  • 1 cup freshly grated bread crumbs, plus 3 tablespoons
  • 1 cup freshly grated pecorino
  • 3 eggs
  • Salt and pepper
  • 20 to 30 leaves field spinach, stems removed
  • 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 6 slices lengthwise
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 6 slices prosciutto
  • 6 slices caciocavallo
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the veal, 1 cup bread crumbs, grated cheese, eggs, and salt and pepper, to taste, and mix thoroughly with hands.

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Dip the spinach leaves in the water to just wilt and immediately remove. Add the carrot slices to the boiling water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then remove and set aside.

Combine the flour with the remaining 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs and heavily dust a wooden work board with the mixture. Pat the veal mixture into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle and lay the spinach leaves over the meat, leaving a 1-inch border on the short sides. Lay the carrot slices over the spinach in the same fashion, then layer the prosciutto and the cheese. Carefully roll the meat into a jellyroll, making it as firm as possible. The sausage should be about 16 inches. Cut the sausage in half crosswise, sealing the ends thoroughly with the meat to keep the cheese from oozing out during cooking. Dust outsides with flour.

In a frying pan large enough to hold both rolls, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the rosemary and polpettone and brown meat on all sides, turning it carefully with a wooden spoon or 2 spatulas. When the meat is brown, remove and discard as much oil as possible. Pour half the wine and the chicken stock over the browned rolls, turn heat to medium-low, cover pan and cook 15 minutes. (If liquid evaporates, add a little water to the pan). Remove cover, turn meat rolls over and pour remaining wine and chicken stock over them, cover again, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Transfer the meat rolls to a cutting board. Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add 1/2 cup water to pan juices. Cook down, scraping up any brown bits, until you have 2 to 3 tablespoons meat glaze. Strain to remove rosemary leaves. Let rolls cool to room temperature, then slice as thinly as possible, and serve with meat glaze drizzled over.

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Read more Comments & Reviews (7)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    DAVID Wappingers Falls, NY 08-05-2006

    Flag

    excellent

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    fun, popular, tasty, and pretty easy as well ... all you can ask in a crowd pleaser
  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    Anonymous 08-12-2005

    Flag

    Not effortless

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    Tasty but a whole lot of preparation.
  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    JOANNE Shirley, NY 06-07-2005

    Flag

    A challenging but tasty outcome

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    I thought 1 lb. of meat wouldn't be enough so I increased it by 1/2. Do not do this as it would have been sufficiently... filling and less complicated to do the original way. With my changes, the recipe seemed to 'get away from me' a bit. I may have rolled out the meat mixture too thin, too, making it hard to roll...I was doing damage control patching up the tears and holes along the way. Yet, the happy ending was the cooking phase, much easier and satisfying. I would suggest though increasing the amount of wine and broth so as to end up with enough gravy in pan to pour over, as it reduces down to almost nothing. I substituted provolone and used baby spinach thereby avoiding the extra step of parboiling it. This is a meal to prepare a day ahead of serving it so as to put the hard part behind you!Read more
  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    Vita Stoneham, MA 06-02-2005

    Flag

    Best meatball/meatloaft I've ever made

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Great texture, excellent taste. A little time consuming but well worth it. Bravo, Mario. Vita Ultrino
  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    Alessandra Brookfield, CT 06-01-2005

    Flag

    award winning!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    My husband, from Genova,loved this recipe and so did my kids, who are such picky eaters! I would not add water to the sauce... at the end, it takes away the taste of the meatloaf.Read more
  • recipe Stuffed Meatballs: Polpettone Ripieni
    Bob Fort Lupton, CO 05-31-2005

    Flag

    Stuffed Meatballs?

    Rated: 3 stars out of 5
    The end result of this recipe is an excellent product but I would caution against allowing meat to come to room temperature... before serving as this would comprise the food safety guideline of keeping hot foods hot, over 135 degrees F.Read more
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