BIT Rustic Sausage Eggplant Meatballs

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 lb BIT Rustic Italian Sausage Hot (loose sausage meat or removed from casing)1/2 lb BIT Rustic Italian Sausage Mild (loose sausage meat or removed from casing)
1 small eggplant
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups of Italian bread

3 tbsp fresh parsley 

1 egg

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup of pine nuts(optional)

1/2 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano grated cheese

Pinch of salt

Pinch of black pepper

Preparation:

Combine hot and mild sausage in a medium size bowl and then transfer to a food processor and grind to hamburger like consistency. Soak Italian bread in warm water until soft, squeeze out water and set aside. Peel and wash eggplant and chop into 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices. Blanch the eggplant slices,strain and squeeze water out.  Soak raisins for 20 minutes in hot water, drain, and roughly chop into pieces golden raisins. Grate cheese. Wash and chop parsley and set aside.

Directions:

Combine following ingredients in large bowl: Sausage meat, bread, raisins, egg, parsley, cheese, eggplant and pine nuts (if using). Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until combined.

Heat a medium size skillet over medium high heat and add the extra virgin olive oil. Make one small ball about the diameter of a quarter. Fry in extra virgin olive oi, turning gently, until golden brown on all sides and cooked. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. 

Form the rest of the mixture into small balls and fry in extra virgin olive oil until golden brown all over. Serve hot and along with your favorite marinara dipping sauce.

Original B.I.T Recipe: B.I.T Rustic Italian Sausage Eggplant Meatballs
Courtesy of Chef Bertha Teresa Thomas
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