Description
Palermo’s classic polpettone blends ground beef, herbs, and cheese into a hearty Mediterranean masterpiece. Rich flavors and rustic techniques highlight Sicily’s culinary heritage while promising a satisfying meal you’ll eagerly share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (907 g) ground beef
- ¼ lb (113 g) deli ham
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup Italian style breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsps parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 12–15 large basil leaves
- Marinara sauce (for serving)
- Cooked pasta or zucchini noodles (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F, creating an optimal cooking environment for the meatloaf.
- Vegetable Sauté: In a skillet, heat olive oil and cook diced onions and red peppers over medium heat until onions become translucent, then introduce minced garlic and remove from heat to cool slightly.
- Mixture Creation: In a large mixing bowl, blend ground beef with breadcrumbs, parmesan, eggs, tomato paste, seasoning, parsley, and the cooled vegetable mixture, ensuring thorough and even distribution of ingredients.
- Rolling Technique: On a parchment paper sheet, spread the meat mixture into a rectangular shape, layer with ham slices, basil leaves, and mozzarella cheese, leaving a one-inch border around the edges.
- Shaping and Sealing: Carefully roll the meat mixture into a compact log using the parchment paper as a guide, firmly sealing the ends to prevent filling from escaping during cooking.
- Baking Process: Transfer the meatloaf to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for one hour, allowing the meat to cook thoroughly and develop a golden-brown exterior.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes to redistribute juices, then slice and serve with pasta or zucchini noodles, accompanied by marinara sauce.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Mixture: Mix ingredients gently to prevent dense, tough texture – overmixing leads to compact, less tender meatloaf.
- Perfect Rolling Technique: Use parchment paper as a guide for creating smooth, tight roll with even thickness, preventing air pockets and ensuring consistent cooking.
- Temperature Control: Let meatloaf rest after baking to allow internal juices to redistribute, guaranteeing moist and flavorful slices with maximum taste retention.
- Cheese Selection: Choose high-quality mozzarella with good melting properties for rich, creamy flavor and smooth texture throughout the rolled meatloaf.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 130mg