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Make Rao’s mouthwatering meatballs

For a hearty fall dish, grab a delicious recipe from a famous Italian eatery

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  Make mouthwatering meatballs
Sept. 30: Frank Pellegrino, co-owner of Rao’s restaurant, cooks up some authentic Italian meatballs with TODAY hosts.

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TODAY recipes
updated 9:28 a.m. ET Sept. 30, 2009

If you're looking for a hot and cozy fall recipe, look no further than Rao’s. Known for their exclusivity and esteemed reputation, New York City’s Rao’s restaurant has been serving up authentic Italian food since 1896. Steal their famous meatball recipe for an easy-to-make and delicious dinner:

Rao’s meatball recipe
Rao's

Makes 14–16 meatballs

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 lb beef
1/2 lb veal
1/2 lb pork
3 large gloves garlic, minced
Salt
Pepper
Parsley
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups grated Pecorino cheese
1 cup plain breadcrumbs

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, place the meat and rub the minced garlic into it. Press the meat down in the bowl, then add, in this order, the salt, pepper, parsley, 2 eggs, and the water. Then sprinkle the cheese over the top as if you are going to cover the water. Finally, sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the cheese.

When you start to mix it all together, mix from the outside of the bowl to the middle and fold it in. After the ingredients are mixed, start to roll the meatball in your hands, about 6 ounces per meatball.

After your meatballs are rolled, take a frying pan (a 10 inch sautee pan is best), add your oil (2 cups) and heat. Place a clove of whole garlic in the frying pan; when the clove of garlic starts to brown, the oil is ready.

Fry the meatballs, cooking and flipping each side until golden brown, about 4 1/2 to 5 minutes on each side. Remove the meatballs after cooking and put on a plate with some paper towels to absorb the oil. [If you want, you can bake the meatballs in an oven on a lightly greased tray at 350 degrees – the taste is totally different than frying.]

Add the meatballs to your tomato sauce and finish cooking them up in the sauce. Serve with the sauce.

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