Ricotta Meatless Meatballs with Sauce

Name: Ricotta Meatless Meatballs with Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 0.66666668653488 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese; 2 large eggs, beaten; 4 cups homemade dry bread crumbs; 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese; 0.33333334326744 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; 1 clove garlic, crushed; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 (14 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes; 0.25 cup red wine; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil; 2 teaspoons white sugar; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper

3.9

(7)

6 Reviews

3 Photos

"Polpette di ricotta al sugo", as these are known in Italian, are meatless balls made out of ricotta cheese and homemade bread crumbs. Think meatballs, but without the meat! The soft balls are then simmered in a simple homemade tomato sauce. I like to serve these with a side of greens, such as broccoli rabe.

Submitted by Kim's Cooking Now

Updated on September 17, 2023

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

Yield:

4 servings

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it.

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

Ricotta Balls:

⅔ cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
4 cups homemade dry bread crumbs
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Sauce:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
¼ cup red wine
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Line a baking sheet or large plate with waxed paper.
Combine ricotta cheese and eggs in a large bowl; mix well. Add bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix until thoroughly blended.
Take a scoop of the mixture with a small cookie scoop and put it in the palm of your hands. Roll it into a ball and place on the waxed paper. Repeat until all of the mixture has been shaped into balls. Place in the refrigerator while you make the sauce.
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, wine, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer.
Add ricotta balls to the sauce. Simmer, shaking the pan occasionally to cover the balls with sauce, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tip

To make homemade bread crumbs, remove the crusts from sliced bread, then grind the bread in a food processor.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

748	Calories
25g	Fat
93g	Carbs
36g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 748
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25g	32%
Saturated Fat 11g	54%
Cholesterol 142mg	47%
Sodium 2199mg	96%
Total Carbohydrate 93g	34%
Dietary Fiber 7g	25%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 36g	71%
Vitamin C 21mg	23%
Calcium 777mg	60%
Iron 8mg	46%
Potassium 740mg	16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.