These Meatball Recipes Prove They're Good for More Than Just Spaghetti (2024)

FAQs

What do Italians think of spaghetti and meatballs? ›

This comforting pasta dish may seem quintessentially Italian, but it did not get its start in Italy. In fact, many restaurants in Italy today don't even serve spaghetti and meatballs.

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Spaghetti and meatballs is an Italian-American pasta dish consisting of spaghetti, tomato sauce, and meatballs. Originally inspired by similar dishes from southern Italy, the modern version of spaghetti and meatballs was developed by Italian immigrants in the United States.

Spaghetti with meatballs is the symbol of the discovery of abundance". It is, therefore, no coincidence that spaghetti with meatballs is so present in New Hollywood's films: a cinematic era signed by the descendants of those emigrant families.

Yes, Italy has its version of meatballs called polpettes, but they differ from their American counterpart in multiple ways. They are primarily eaten as a meal itself (plain) or in soups and made with any meat from turkey to fish.

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked.

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior.

Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry. The breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Again quantity is important here; too much and your meatball will be more like stuffing or a dumpling.

Where does spaghetti come from? Although Greek mythology shows the god Vulcan using a device that made strings of dough, it's widely believed “spaghetto” (the singular for spaghetti in Italian) originated in 12^th century Palermo, in sunny Sicily.

Who brought spaghetti to America? ›

The first recipe of tomato sauce and pasta appeared in the late 18th century. After a visit to Italy while he was ambassador of France, Thomas Jefferson introduced pasta to America in the late 18th century.

As immigrants from the different regions of Italy settled throughout the various regions of the United States, many brought with them a distinct regional Italian culinary tradition. Many of these foods and recipes developed into new favorites for the townspeople and later for Americans nationwide.

But for Black people, it represents connection, the pursuit of creativity that drives us to make things our own and how, when we do so, we create memories that keep our stomachs satiated and our souls at peace.

The Bitten Word: Spaghetti and Meatballs All'Amatriciana.

Spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sauce is a purely American invention, the result of a surge of Italian immigration to the U.S. and the adaptations they made to available ingredients. The truth about meatballs is that they are a clever way to dress up tough, cheaper cuts of meat.

Jan 28, 2021 – While there's no denying the universal appeal of Spaghetti and Meatballs, the dish is not actually Italian, but was an innovation of Italian immigrants who came to America, primarily to New York City, from 1880 to 1920.

The SPAGHETTI rule

Not everyone knows that, when Italians cook spaghetti, they never break them before putting them in the hot water! It is forbidden! Spaghetti must be cooked just the way they are: intact! Then, they must be eaten rolling them up with a fork.

The dish that many around the world think of as spaghetti Bolognese is essentially split into two components in Italian minds. First, the sauce. Italians do eat a similar, though not identical, meat sauce known as ragù alla Bolognese.

It could be its versatility, this food offers a wide range of shapes and formats, allowing for a great variety of dishes and can be paired with an enormous variety of sauces, condiments and ingredients, making it a flexible choice suitable for many culinary preferences.