Mini Tuna Meatballs (Polpette di Tonno): an easy and tasty finger food
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Mouthwatering tuna meatballs that you'll love at first bite.
Author:
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 7 oz. / 200 gr. good quality tuna canned in olive oil, drained
  • 7 oz. / 200 gr. ricotta (or cottage cheese, drained and sifted)
  • 1 tbsp white onion, chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp vinegar-brined capers, well-drained (if you have salt-packed capers soak them in cool water for about 15 minutes rinsing them in several changes of water or they will be too salty)
  • 2 oz. / 60 gr. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, finely grated
  • 3 oz. / 80 gr. bread crumbs, extra finely grated (plus extra for rolling meatballs)
  • 2 medium eggs
  • salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Take a bowl and add tuna (well-drained and roughly chopped), ricotta (or cottage cheese as specified above), onion, parsley, chopped capers, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and bread crumbs. Mix them well, adjust with salt to taste and then you can add eggs.
  2. I suggest you to mix them with a fork or with your hands and avoid electric appliances to preserve the "little crumbly" texture (if you do this with an electric mixer the tuna meatballs could be too tough after cooking).
  3. Make little balls (from 1 to 1½ inches - 2,5 cm to 4 cm ø) and:
  4. roll them in some fine bread crumbs for a quicker way (like I did);
-OR-
  1. roll them in some flour, dip them into a beaten egg and roll them again in some fine bread crumbs (this will give a crispier and firm crust to the meatballs - this is recommended).
  2. Put the meatballs over a plate and heat oil in a deep-frying pan (if you like you can put them in a plastic bag, then in the freezer and cook when you want - after that remember to cook them frozen).
  3. Deep-fry the "polpette" at about 320-335°F / 160-170°C until golden brown.
  4. Remove from the frying pan and put them on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
OR
  1. You can cook them in the oven for a light dinner (400°F / 200°C / gas mark 6) for about 15-20 minutes, but they will be not so good-looking as the fried ones.
Recipe by Ilaria's Perfect Recipes at https://www.ilariasperfectrecipes.com/mini-tuna-meatballs-polpette-tonno-easy-tasty-finger-food/