Italian Horse Meat Meatballs

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) horse meat, ground 500g (1.1 lb) horse meat, ground
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg, beaten 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup tomato sauce 1 cup tomato sauce

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 12g, 4g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 10g, 2g
• Protein: 25g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. 2.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground horse meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, egg, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
3. 3.
   Shape the mixture into small meatballs, approximately 1 inch in diameter.
4. 4.
   Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. 5.
   Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and golden brown.
6. 6.
   In a separate saucepan, heat the tomato sauce over medium heat until warmed through.
7. 7.
   Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer them to the saucepan with the tomato sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
8. 8.
   Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
9. 9.
   Serve the Italian Horse Meat Meatballs hot, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Horse meat — Ensure that the horse meat is fresh and sourced from a reputable supplier. If horse meat is not available or preferred, you can substitute it with lean beef or pork.

Tips & Tricks

• For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
• To make the meatballs juicier, you can soak the breadcrumbs in milk before adding them to the mixture.
• Serve the meatballs with freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top for an extra burst of flavor.
• These meatballs can be made ahead of time and frozen. Simply thaw and reheat in the oven before serving.
• Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor of the meatballs to your liking.

Serving advice

Serve the Italian Horse Meat Meatballs as a main course accompanied by a side of pasta or crusty bread. They can also be served as an appetizer with toothpicks for a party or gathering.

Presentation advice

Arrange the meatballs on a platter, drizzle some extra tomato sauce over them, and garnish with fresh parsley for an appealing presentation. Serve them in a rustic Italian-style bowl or on individual plates for an elegant touch.