Cooking Lesson #928: Rao's Famous Meatballs

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? A dinner at Rao’s Italian Restaurants in New York is not really a meal without a plate of their world-famous meatballs.
 
Rao’s has been a cornerstone of the East Harlem NYC neighborhood since 1896. They are known for no-nonsense, Italian home cooking and a homey checker cloth elegance that has long attracted celebrities, politicos and people lucky enough who had Frankie No on speed dial. As one of the owners, Frankie kept the reservation book. If you weren’t a celebrity type or had a standing reservation, he would respond with a demonstrative “NO—we’re booked up for four months.” Old Frankie even had a role in Goodfellas. That must have been the price of admission for some of the movie moguls while filming in New York.
 
Fortunately for you the restaurant offers many of their sauces in jars. While they are the pricey brand on the shelf—about twice as much as the next brand—I consider them to be the best jarred sauce available—even better than Frank Sinatra’s mama’s sauce.
 
And if you’re craving great meatballs, you can make them at home… no reservation required! Our tip (not the usual 18%, 20%, 22%)? These meatballs pair well with a big, bold red wine that can match the meat for richness and take the tangy edge off the tomato sauce: Think good rich Zinfandel or a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
 
Prep time:  15 minutes
Cook time:  20-25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (half pound per person or less if served with pasta)
 
Ingredients 
1 pound ground lean beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound lean ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups fine breadcrumbs (seasoned or unseasoned)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 jar (24-ounces) of Rao’s Marinara Sauce (regular or sensitive)
Shredded Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley sprigs for garnish
 
Directions

1. Lightly combine the beef, veal and pork in a large bowl.
2. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Using your hands, blend ingredients together.
4. Blend the breadcrumbs into meat mixture. If the mixture is dry, slowly add enough water until it’s quite moist and sticky.
5. Shape the meat mixture into 3-inch balls.
6. Heat the olive oil in a large pan. When oil is hot, fry the meatballs in batches, turning regularly, until they’re browned evenly on all sides; about 5 minutes per batch.
7. Remove the meatballs from the oil and drain on paper towels.
8. In a large pan, bring the marinara sauce to a simmer, and then gently lower the cooked meatballs in and continue simmering for 15 minutes.
9. Serve over pasta, in a sandwich, or on their own.

ChefSecret: 

• Do not overwork the meats when mixing as the meatballs will get tough and rubbery. I like to use a large ice cream scoop to portion the meatballs. If they’re a consistent size, they’ll cook more evenly. 
• If you prefer not to fry the meatballs, you can bake them at 350˚  in the oven. Omit the olive oil and place scooped meatballs onto foil-lined sheet pans and bake for about 15-20 minutes (depending on size of meatball); rotate the trays shelf to shelf and front to back about halfway through. The meatballs are done when they start to brown on the top.

Quip of the Day:  Why don’t meatballs ever go out on Saturdays? Because they are already “sauced!”
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.
 
​#Entree #Meatballs #Raos #RaosSauce #RaosMeatballs #Dinner #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

---