Spicy Calabrian Meatballs
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 1 hr 35 min
- Active: 50 min
- Yield: 40 to 45 meatballs
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 1 hr 35 min
- Active: 50 min
- Yield: 40 to 45 meatballs
Ingredients
Calabrian Red Sauce
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
- Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, eggs, panko, mayonnaise, and milk. Add the garlic, paprika, salt, ginger, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, cayenne, cloves, coriander and nutmeg. Using your hands, mix well to combine. Add 3 tablespoons each of the parsley, cilantro, and scallion and use your hands to mix for 1 minute to distribute the herbs.
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a small 2-ounce (60 milliliter) cookie scoop, add the meatballs to the pan, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 centimeter) space between them. Bake until the meatballs are lightly browned and the internal temperature reads 155 degrees F (68 degrees C), 15 to 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss the meatballs with the sauce and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with the remaining tablespoon each of parsley, cilantro, and scallion. Scatter with more parsley and serve immediately.
Calabrian Red Sauce
- In a large heavy-bottomed skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat until it begins to shimmer, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the shallots and 1 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and use a potato masher to smooth out any lumps. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, along with the chicken stock, garlic, chiles (and some of their oil), vinegar, basil, parsley, and black pepper and stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until it reduces slightly, about 20 more minutes. (It will be a thinner sauce.) To prevent scorching, stir the sauce every few minutes. Serve warm or let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Cook’s Note
This simple red sauce gets its heat from Calabrian chiles, which are balanced with notes of spice and fruit. Their fiery flavor is why I love using this sauce to make my Spicy Calabrian Meatballs, and it's also great on sandwiches, pastas, or even as a dip. This sauce freezes beautifully, so feel free to make it ahead.
