posted by SueFreeman 05-15-101 7:09 PM
Polpettoncini con Mozzarella (Meat Croquettes with Mozzarella
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
6 -8 T grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs slightly beaten
Mozzerella, cut in julienned strips about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch in diameter.
All purpose flour
Oil for frying
Lemon wedges or favorite sauce
Combine beef, bread crumbs, parsley, grated cheese and salt and pepper, eggs and mix well. Mix Very Well. Make sure mixture is moist but not gooey. If it is dry add a little water. Form croquettes the size you desire. Make it oblong and indent a canal and place the piece of mozzerella cheese in it and form meat around the cheese encasing it completely. Make sure you roll it and that the cheese is sealed. Dredge in flour. Set aside. You can make mini meatloaves if you wish also.
Deep fry the crouqettes until browned. Drain. Put in a baking dish loosely covered with foil (Just lay it over the top of them; don't seal around, and place in 350 oven for 20 minutes. (You can oven fry these too. Don't dredge in flour but put in a hot oven on a sprayed pan and turn. You won't get the flavor as you do in deep frying but you also don't get the fat.)
Garnish with fresh chopped basil and lemon wedges for squeezing over croquettes.
NOTE: You can pour spaghetti sauce over them or a marinara sauce before baking and let them bake in that also. They are good that way, but are so much more tastier with lemon and basil. You can also make these any size you want. You can make small ones for appetizers also. Can use Asiago or any other cheese that melts.