OK, so it was really supposed to be Pasta with Turkey Meatballs and Bocconcini, but have you ever heard of bocconcini? Because I haven’t, and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about food. And neither Trader Joe’s nor Stop and Shop had heard of it either (nor apparently has Blogger, considering it keeps spell-checking it). So, I figured the next closest thing was mozzarella. And as far as I’m concerned, that worked out just fine. Better than fine actually. It was amazing.
I’ve never made meatballs before, so I wasn’t quite sure how difficult they would be. But these were so easy and quick. Just mix the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parm, garlic, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl and then form the mixture into little meatballs. I made mine a little bigger than the recipe said to, but they were still pretty small and cute.
Put the meatballs in a skillet with butter over medium-high heat and cook them until they’re golden brown all over. Then add 1 1/2 C water and continue simmering until they’re cooked all the way through and the liquid reduces to 1/2 C. Then you can add the tomatoes and cook for another minute. I forgot to cut my tomatoes in half (ooops), but I kind of liked them whole. When cooking, don’t let them get too soft…unless of course you like ultra squishy tomatoes.
While the meatballs are cooking, boil your pasta. The recipe called for orecchiette, which is one of my favorite pastas (what? Is it weird I had a favorite pasta shape?). But I went to 2 grocery stores and neither had it! So I settled for cappelletti because it looked pretty similar. Once the pasta is al dente, you can drain it, put it back in the pot and add the mozzarella…or um, the bocconcini if you know what that is and manage to find it (If so, fill me in).
Then add the meatballs and tomatoes and whatever else is left in the pan. Add some more parsley, parm, and butter, too, and mix it up.
I seriously think this may be one of my new favorite meals. It was super flavorful and made soo many leftovers (yay food for the rest of the week!). And I feel kind of proud of myself for making meatballs for the first time. I’m growing up!
I had a fabulous glass of Marchese de Petri 2006 Sangiovese with my dinner because a) it came highly recommended by 2 Guys Uncorked and b) it’s only $3.49 at Trader Joe’s. Need I say more?
[Sues]
 |
Yummy! That looks awesome! I just linked the boyfriend and he agrees we must make this ASAP. Beautiful colors and delicious-sounding flavors!
you are seriously my personal martha stewart. all my cooking skillz…thanks to you and your inspiration. Adding this one to the “to make” list. <3 <3
sus that looks so good! i believe brocolinni is almost a ‘hybrid’ of regular brocolli. smaller florettes and stems. next time if you wanted to, you could just use regular brocolli and cut it very small. but your version looks yummy!
Bunny- Definitely…I HIGHLY recommend it…I have a huge thing with colorful food and this was perfecttt. Let me know how it comes out
Heidi- Awww
But, you’re not bad yourself! Those cupcakes you made the other day?? I need to make them ASAP.
Sara- omg that’s what I immediately thought too! But it’s not broccolini, it’s bocconcini, which is allegedly a type of cheese. I came really close to buying broccolini though!
Ooh, I found it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocconcini. Not sure where to buy it, however . . .
Those meatballs are to die for! I must make this dish. Yummy!
I adore meatballs and yours are calling to me. I’m not familiar with that type of pasta—but it looks delicious, so that’s all that counts!
The pasta reminds me of belly buttons!
yah that looks really grub!
bocconcini is chese made from water buffalo milk. i kid you not. and I only know this because I lived in Rome for awhile. it’s similar to (good) mozzarella as they’re both packaged in milk.
those look awesome though, regardless
That looks sooooo good! I am definately going to try and make it one night, except with chicken meatballs since I have a ton of ground chicken I need something to do with!
please make this for me asap. thanks. bye.
WOW.
I would marry that serving of food.
I made this for C and I on Saturday night and it was AWESOME! I loved the meatballs. The only thing is I tasted them before I added the water, and was obsessed, and then after I did the water reduction thing, the meatballs didn’t seem AS flavorful, which was kind of sad. But basically, I was addicted. We both ate like 3 helpings. Thanks for posting the recipe!
ladies,
i made this last week for my wife, it came out great!! I did find the chesse you mentioned in my local stop and shop here in new jersey.
Tom k.
I buy bocconcini at my HEB in the section with the Rondele cheeses and the packaged feta in the plastic container. It is really just small mozzarella balls.
I made this dish several weeks ago and it was yummy. Then I lost the recipe. So glad to find it here! I will make it again this week! Thanks!
(I’m reading this a bit later than it’s been posted.)
)
Bocconcini is smaller balls of fresh mozzarella. When I buy it (on an odd occasion) in my local store, it looks just like what you’ve put in your dish
(I live in Australia, and I used to work in a deli in Canada, where Bocconcini looked, again, just like what you’ve got there
OMG this looks amazing! also, here’s to Trader Joes! Best place on earth!
so i know i am posting this much later than when you originally blogged this…but i made this the other night with bowtie pasta and it was amazing. i couldn’t find either type of pasta you mentioned at albertsons! boooo! i also added more parsley and chesse than it called for in the metaballs plus diced tomotoes instead of the whole tomotoes. so great!