Polpete
The polpete are the delicious meatballs of the Italian cuisine, softer than the classic meatballs because they contain breadcrumbs moistened with milk.
23 K 5/5 (1 reviews)
1 hour 55 min.
Easy
25 pieces
15 IngredientsLast modified on: April 8th 2023
3 slices 
1 glass 
300 ml minced beef
½ 
50 ml Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
2 
4 tablespoons 
1 
2 
1 sprig 
1 
300 ml peeled and chopped tomatoes
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 30 min.
Resting: 1 hour
Cooking: 25 min.
All in all: 1 hour 55 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Add the milk-soaked bread, squeezed between your hands, grated 50 ml Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) and 2 eggs.
Stage 4 - 3 min.
Mix thoroughly.
You can do it with a mixer, or simply by hand...
You can do it with a mixer, or simply by hand...
Stage 5
...until you get...
Stage 6 - 1 hour
...a homogeneous mixture.
Let rest 1 hour in the refrigerator if possible.
Let rest 1 hour in the refrigerator if possible.
Stage 7 - 10 min.
Shape them into balls and place them on a baking sheet, possibly protected by a sheet of baking paper.
If you don't use them right away, you can freeze them at this stage: put the baking sheet in the freezer, and when the balls are frozen, transfer them to a closed plastic freezer bag.
If you don't use them right away, you can freeze them at this stage: put the baking sheet in the freezer, and when the balls are frozen, transfer them to a closed plastic freezer bag.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Cooking
In a large frying pan over medium heat, pour in 4 tablespoons olive oil and when it is hot add the dumplings, just brown them on each "face".Put on hold in a plate
Stage 9 - 1 min.
In the same pan, add a little olive oil, then chopped 1 shallot, 2 bayleaves, 1 sprig thyme, 1 garlic clove, salt and pepper.
Cook for 1 minute, without browning.
Cook for 1 minute, without browning.
Stage 10 - 10 min.
Pour in 300 ml peeled and chopped tomatoes, add more salt and pepper, and let thicken gently for about 10 minutes.
Stage 11 - 5 min.
Add the previously set aside meatballs, sprinkle with tomatoes and let them warm up slowly.
Stage 12 - 2 min.
Stage 13
Serve the polpete with the side dish of your choice, in this case white rice, and a generous helping of tomato puree.
Remarks
In principle, popete is beef, but you can also put several meats together: beef + pork for example, or beef + veal.
Pecorino instead, or with it, Parmesan is also a very good option.
Pecorino instead, or with it, Parmesan is also a very good option.
Keeping: 1 or 2 days in the refrigerator, protected by a stretch film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 310 RDI=120 % | 1,750 RDI=170 % | 180 RDI=30 % | 2,170 RDI=110 % | 9,080 RDI: 110 % |
| Per 100 g | 30 RDI=10 % | 150 RDI=10 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 190 RDI=9 % | 780 RDI: 9 % |
| Per piece | 10 RDI=5 % | 70 RDI=7 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 90 RDI=4 % | 360 RDI: 4 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 25 pieces : 7.20 €
- Per piece : 0.30 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Peeled and chopped tomatoes
Like these other recipes: Polenta parmentier, Chicken "cantina", Veal Marengo, Sausages with baked beans, French style, White bean gratin "à l'italienne", ... See them all 14
Minced beef
Like these other recipes: Hamburgers, Spaghetti Bolognese, Gisèle's Pasties, Meatballs, Italian style gratin, ... See them all 14
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Like these other recipes: Roast cabbage with lemon, Green asparagus omelette, Caesar salad, Spicy carrots and turnips roasted with Parmesan cheese, Turnip and Jerusalem artichoke soup, ... See them all 57
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Bistro-style red endive salad, Italian style gratin, Pumpkin and red-bean tortillas, Tagliatelle New Zealand style, Stuffed artichokes au gratin, ... See them all 519
Other recipes you may also like
Spinach fritters
This Indian inspired recipe gives a delicious contrast betwen the hot crispy fritters and the cool, slightly sharp herb dressing.May 20th 2015234 K3.3 2 hours 6 min.
Tomato and courgette tart
This summer tart has a puff pastry base topped with a rosette of sliced tomatoes and sautéd courgettes. For a more substantial dish, add some diced feta on top before cooking.July 18th 2010230 K4.2 2 hours 5 min.
How to keep a tart pastry case crisp
The problem with tarts, and fruit tarts in particular, is that the filling (fruit, cream or whatever) ends up soaking into the pastry and turns it soft. Here is a professional tip for avoiding this problem: spread a thin layer of white chocolate, which does not have a strong flavour, in the bottom...June 12th 2013170 K4.7 1 hour
Real custard sauce (crème anglaise)
Real custard or vanilla sauce consists of egg yolks beaten with sugar and cooked slowly in vanilla milk. It is the base or the accompaniment for many desserts.January 17th 2018420 K 24.3 45 min.
Tartiflette
A personal version of a classic recipe from Savoy.September 16th 2019608 K 14.6 1 hour 30 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-05-18)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.