Recipes, Guides, Lifestyles by GRATSI

Polpette di Ricotta
EAT

GIOVANNI'S KITCHEN

Polpette di Ricotta

Perfect as an appetizer or a secondo!

By Giovanni Siracusa

 |  

February 28, 2025

Polpette di Ricotta

By Giovanni Siracusa

Ingredients

  • 28

    oz whole milk cow’s ricotta

  • 1

    egg

  • 1 1/2

    cups breadcrumbs

  • 5

    oz spinach (cooked, drained, and chopped)

  • 1

    can crushed tomato purée

  • 2

    cloves garlic

  • Parmigiano Reggiano (to taste, a generous sprinkle for flavor)

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Olive oil

  • Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

TOTAL TIME

30 minutes

50 servings

These polpette are soft, creamy, and packed with Italian flavors. Fried to perfection in olive oil, they develop a delicate golden crust that makes them irresistibly light yet flavorful. Perfect for aperitivo or a cozy dinner with bread to soak up the sauce.

A top-down view of ricotta cheese with basil, canned tomatoes, fresh spinach, a garlic bulb, an egg, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs arranged on a white surface.

STEP 1

In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, egg, breadcrumbs, spinach, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Season with salt and pepper. The mixture should be soft but hold its shape. 

A clear glass bowl filled with a creamy, white mixture garnished with chopped green herbs, sits on a lace-patterned tablecloth. A metal spoon rests inside the bowl.

STEP 2

Using your hands, roll the mixture into small meatballs, about the size of a golf ball.

Dozens of uncooked spinach and ricotta dumplings arranged in neat rows on parchment paper, viewed from above.

STEP 3

Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.

STEP 4

Carefully place the polpette in the pan and constantly turn them to ensure even browning. Be careful not to burn them, they should develop a golden crust.

A close-up of a metal spoon holding several golden-brown, round fritters with herbs, above a pan of hot oil on a stovetop. More fritters are seen frying in the oil below.

STEP 5

Transfer the polpette directly onto a paper towel to drain any oil once browned. 

STEP 6

Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add whole garlic and sauté until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomato purée and season with salt, pepper and fresh basil.

A pan filled with red tomato sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves, sits on a white surface.

STEP 7

Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the garlic.

Serve these Polpette di Ricotta warm, over the tomato sauce, and enjoy alongside a glass of Gratsi Red. Buon appetito!

A plate of vegetarian meatballs in tomato sauce garnished with basil is on a table with bowls of grated cheese, green olives, toasted bread, a glass of red wine, and a lit candle.

The market