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If you’re looking for a fresh and tasty dinner idea, then these Ricotta Balls are just the thing. With a base of creamy ricotta and plenty of herbs, these little bites are the perfect addition to pasta night. The great part is that they’re incredibly easy to make and cook right in your red sauce, so dinner can be ready in no time. Let’s get into how they’re made…

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You’ll start out by mixing fresh ricotta cheese with grated parmesan, minced garlic, and chopped fresh parsley in a mixing bowl. Season the mixture with oregano, a pinch of salt, and black pepper to taste, then gently fold in some bread crumbs until well combined.

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Once the mixture is fully combined, scoop out portions the size of a meatball, or about 1-2 tablespoons, and gently roll them into balls. Once all of the dough has been rolled out you can start heating the sauce. Carefully place the ricotta balls in the simmer sauce and cook them for about 15 minutes.

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Top off the skillet with some fresh basil and your Ricotta Balls are ready to go! Serve them over your favorite pasta, rice, or as an appetizer with some crusty bread. There’s no way to go wrong with these cheesy bites. Give the recipe a try and I’m sure you’ll agree.

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Yield(s): Serves 4-6

30m prep time

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Ingredients
  • 1 ¾ cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1 ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (25 oz) jar marinara sauce
  • ½ cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
  • Pasta for serving
Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully combined.
  2. Scoop dough in meatball-sized portions and roll into a ball. Place on a plate or cutting board until ready to cook.
  3. In a large skillet over medium-low, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add marinara sauce and cook until simmering.
  4. Reduce heat to low and add ricotta balls. Cook for 6 minutes, then flip for and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
  5. Garnish with fresh basil and serve over pasta.

Recipe adapted from The-pasta-project.com