Bitter Ballen

Ingredients

1. 3/4 pound ground veal
2. 1/4 pound ground pork
3. 2 garlic cloves, minced
4. 1 large shallot, minced
5. 2 teaspoons kosher salt
6. 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
7. 1 1/3 cups fine dry bread crumbs
8. 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
9. 1 large egg yolk plus 2 large beaten eggs
10. 1/2 cup coarsely shredded Gruyère cheese
11. 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons tapioca starch
12. Vegetable oil, for frying

1. In a large bowl, mix the veal with the pork, garlic, shallot, salt and nutmeg. Refrigerate for 1 hour. In a bowl, mix cup of the bread crumbs and the milk; let stand for 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and work to a paste. Stir the paste, egg yolk and Gruyère into the veal mixture. Roll into 1-inch balls; refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
2. Put 1/2 cup of the tapioca starch, the beaten eggs and the remaining 1 cup of bread crumbs in 3 bowls. Stir the remaining 3 tablespoons of tapioca starch into the bread crumbs. Dust each meatball in the tapioca. Roll in the eggs, then in the bread crumbs.
3. In a saucepan, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 350°. Fry the meatballs in batches until golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels; serve.