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Food & Wine Recipe

Parsley and Garlic Meatballs

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 10
  • FAST
  • MAKE-AHEAD

Michel Benasra lightly flattens his herb-flecked meatballs before sautéing, then finishes them in broth to keep them moist.

  1. 3 slices of white bread, crusts trimmed
  2. 1/3 cup milk
  3. 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
  4. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  5. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  6. 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
  7. 1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
  8. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  9. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  10. 2 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
  1. In a small bowl, soak the bread in the milk for 5 minutes. Squeeze the bread and discard the milk. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the bread, 1 tablespoon of the oil, the onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, 11/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and mix well. Shape the mixture into 2-inch meatballs. Flatten them slightly.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add half of the meatballs and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a bowl and wipe out the skillet. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and uncooked meatballs.
  3. In a large saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and add the meatballs. Simmer over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the meatballs and broth to a bowl and serve.
Make Ahead The cooked meatballs can be refrigerated in the broth overnight. Rewarm over low heat before serving.