Skip to main content

Devilish Meatballs A recipe from Spyglass Rooftop Bar

When and where was the first meatball made? It’s one of the great mysteries of life — no one really knows. Early recipes for Roman isicia (meatballs) are attributed to ancient gastronome Apicius. We do know that the meatball is a hit in every culture, as a multitude of variations abound across the globe: You’ll enjoy a polpette in Italy, a kofta in India, a kufta in Armenia, a bakso in Indonesia and a köttbullar in Sweden.

At Spyglass Rooftop Bar, we enjoy kicking flavors up a notch, and our version — Devilish Meatballs — lives up to its name. They’re large, deep-fried meatballs stuffed with burrata cheese and served with a spicy cherry tomato sauce. This recipe makes approximately six large meatballs.

Buon appetite!

  • 20m prep time
  • 10m cook time
  • 30m total time
  • 14 ingredients

Ingredients

The meatballs

  • 1 pound Angus beef
  • 1 quart panko breadcrumbs
  • 12 eggs
  • 6 ounces burrata cheese
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1/2 bunch fresh basil
  • Micro basil for garnish

The sauce

  • 5 cups candy cherry tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 4 teaspoons crushed red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  1. THE SAUCE:

    Add olive oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, red pepper, salt and tomatoes; simmer. Lower heat and let it reduce, making sure to leave the cherry tomatoes intact.

  2. THE MEATBALLS:

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk 4 eggs. Add 2 cups of panko, roughly chopped basil, garlic salt and black pepper. Add the meat and mix well. Portion the mixture into 3-ounce balls and the burrata cheese into 1-ounce balls; set aside.

    Whisk 8 eggs in a second mixing bowl and set aside.

    Add the remaining panko to a third mixing bowl and set aside.

    Flatten each meatball. Place a cheese ball in the center and seal the meat tightly around the cheese. Roll to coat each meatball five times: panko, egg, panko, egg, panko. Chill meatballs in the fridge for 1 hour.

    Heat fryer to 320˚; fry each meatball 5 minutes, until golden.

    Add the sauce to the center of the plate; place the meatball on top, add a dash of sauce on top of the meatball and garnish with micro basil.

Related Posts

Purple Gaze — Spyglass + AKB at Archer Hotel New York 12 Months of Cocktails: June

New York

Holiday Happenings in New York City

New York

Most Romantic Spots in New York City

New York