Dinner for Two: Braised Meatballs, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Kale
Flavorful meatballs are braised in a delicious pan gravy and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and roasted kale! It's the perfect romantic meal for any special occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutesmins
Cook Time 45 minutesmins
Total Time 1 hourhr
Ingredients
For the meatballs
1poundground beef
1poundground pork
2large eggs
½cupplain bread crumbs
½cupparmesan cheesegrated
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
½teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
¼cupfresh parsleychopped
1tablespoonfresh oreganochopped
2garlic clovesminced
3tablespoonsolive oil
For the gravy
1medium shallotminced
2garlic clovesminced
3tablespoonsflour
2cupschicken or beef stock
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
2teaspoonsWorcestershire sauce
For the roasted garlic mashed potatoes
4large baking potatoespeeled and diced
5tablespoonsunsalted butter
¼cupbuttermilk
1teaspoonsalt
¾teaspoonblack pepper
½cupparmesan cheesegrated
8garlic clovespeeled
1tablespoonolive oil
For the roasted kale
4cupsfresh chopped kale
2tablespoonsolive oil
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
½teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
To make the meatballs, in a large bowl combine the ground meat, eggs, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley, oregano and garlic. Stir with your hands until evenly combined. Form the meat into small balls the size of golf balls (but a little bit smaller). Heat a large heavy duty pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and sear the meatballs in batches. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, or until crispy and golden brown and then flip over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and continue to cook the rest of the meatballs.
Once they've all been cooked, remove all but 1 tablespoon of olive oil from the pot. Add in the shallot and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes or until soft. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute. Slowly stream in, while whisking constantly, the chicken stock until the roux has dissolved completely. Lower the heat and cook until bubbly and thick. Season with a salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Lower the flame to as low as it'll go and return the meatballs to the pot, nestling them into the gravy. Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, semi-covered with a lid.
To make the potatoes, wrap the garlic cloves in foil with the olive oil and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Roast in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. Place the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain and return to pot. Add in the butter, buttermilk, salt, pepper, roasted garlic, and parmesan. Mash until smooth. Keep warm on the stove over low heat.
To make the kale, place the kale on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Spread out onto an even layer and roast for about 10 to 15 minutes or until charred and crispy.
To serve, spoon the potatoes onto the plates and top with the roasted kale. Place a few meatballs on top of the kale and spoon over with gravy. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley on top. Enjoy!