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Sophia Loren's Meaatballs

Sophia Loren’s meatballs in white wine cream sauce bring a touch of Italian elegance to your table, with rich, succulent meatballs bathed in a tangy, creamy sauce perfectly balanced with white wine and fresh parsley. This simple, delicious, and thrifty dish is perfect for a comforting dinner, served with a vibrant salad or over mashed potatoes.
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (500g) lb. ground veal or beef
  • 4 slices stale white bread or toast
  • 1¼ (300ml) cups whole milk
  • 1 (240ml) cup heavy cream (*See notes)
  • ½ (100ml) cup dry white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc - Its crisp, acidic profile adds a nice contrast to the richness of the cream)
  • 2 (30ml) Tbsp chicken broth
  • Flour for dredging meatballs
  • olive oil for frying
  • a handful of chopped parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, pour milk and add the bread. Set it aside and allow the bread to absorb the milk. Squeeze out the excess milk and reserve the bread. Combine the reserved bread with ground meat in the same large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and shape the mixture into meatballs measuring 1½ to 2 inches in diameter, slightly larger than a golf ball. Dredge each meatball in flour.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to a depth of about ½ inch or 2 cm over medium heat. Fry the meatballs on both sides in batches if necessary. Drain them on a plate lined with paper towels.
  3. Pour off any excess oil from the skillet and scrape off any residue. Pour in the wine and cook over higher heat until it reduces by a quarter. Then, add the chicken broth and cream. Reduce the heat and cook for 1 minute. Return the meatballs to the pan, ensuring they are all covered in the sauce. Reheat gently over low heat for 1 minute; do not let the sauce boil.
  4. Sprinkle with parsley, serve with mashed potatoes and lots of sauce.

Notes

  • To ensure ample sauce for serving over mashed potatoes and for leftovers, I recommend doubling the cream sauce, as it tends to reduce significantly during cooking.
  • Store any leftovers in the fridge in a single layer to prevent the meatballs from sticking together and breaking apart when separated.
  • My husband had a fantastic idea for using leftover meatballs. Given their simple seasoning, he heated up a can of cream of mushroom soup, added some leftover cooked rice, and then incorporated the meatballs for a delicious and creative dinner.