Italian-American Meatballs with Fennel

• Recipe by Roger Hayot

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon pure olive oil
2. 1/2 cup minced onion
3. 1/4 cup minced fennel
4. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
5. 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, finely chopped
6. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
7. 1/2 pound ground beef
8. 1/2 pound ground pork
9. 1 large egg, lightly beaten
10. 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
11. 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
12. 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
13. Vegetable oil, for sautéing

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the onion, fennel and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the fennel seeds and crushed red pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Scrape the vegetable-spice mixture into a medium bowl and let cool.
2. Add the ground beef and pork to the bowl, along with the egg, parsley, bread crumbs and salt, and mix with your hands until thoroughly combined. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions, roll into balls and set on a large plate.
3. Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet. Add the meatballs and sauté over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain the meatballs on paper towels, then serve.

Serve With

Roasted red peppers and tomato sauce in a sandwich, or spaghetti and tomato sauce.