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Fontina Stuffed Meatballs with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Creamy Pimento Grits and Sautéed Kale – As Seen on Restaurant: Impossible

From the episode, “A Dream in Shambles”

SERVES 4

YOU’LL NEED

Spiced Tomato Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
  • 1 cup white onion, diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup tomato paste
  • 2 tsp. garam masala seasoning
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 6 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Meatball Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. 80/20 ground beef
  • 1 lb. ground pork
  • 1 each onion, small diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 each eggs
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded fontina cheese

Grits Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup grits
  • 1 cup pimento cheese
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Sautéed Kale Ingredients

  • 1 cup kale, rough chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Garnish

  • 2 tbsp. chives, chopped

MAKE IT

For the Spiced Tomato Sauce

  1. In a large sauce pot over medium heat, add the grapeseed oil, garlic, and onions. Stir and allow to sweat for 3 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
  2. Next, add the tomato paste and garam masala. Stir and allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Deglaze the sauce mixture with the white wine and add the crushed tomatoes. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer.
  4. Turn the sauce down to low and allow to cook for approximately 15 minutes. Season the finished sauce with kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste.

 For the Meatballs

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, onions, garlic, and eggs.
  3. Using your hands or a wooden spoon incorporate all ingredients together.
  4. Next, add the panko breadcrumbs, parsley, basil, salt and pepper.
  5. Mix the meatball mixture. Form the mixture into 2 oz. meatballs and stuff 1 tbsp. of fontina cheese into the center of each meatball.
  6. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Put the meatballs in the oven and allow to cook for approximately 12 minutes.
  8. Next, place the par-cooked meatballs into spiced tomato sauce. Allow the meatballs to simmer in the sauce over medium heat, and finish cooking for approximately 30 minutes, until tender.

For the Grits

  1. In a large sauce pot, add water and milk.
  2. Bring mixture to a simmer.
  3. Using a whisk, add grits and allow to cook for 30 minutes.
  4. Finish the grits by stirring in the pimento cheese.
  5. Season the grits with kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste.

For the Sautéed Kale

  1. In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, add the grapeseed oil and kale.
  2. Stir and allow to cook for approximately 3 minutes. Next add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
  3. Finish the sauteed kale with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, to taste.

 For Plating the Dish

  1. Place the grits in the center of the bowl and top with the sauteed kale.
  2. Place meatballs on top of the sauteed kale and grits
  3. Top the meatballs with the spicy tomato sauce and chopped chives.

 

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