Monster Eye Meatballs

Ingredients

• 500g ground beef (80/20)
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• 200g fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds
• 12 large black olives, sliced into thin rounds

Steps

1. 1

   1. Combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix until just combined — do not overwork.

2. 2

   2. Roll the mixture into 12 evenly sized balls and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.

3. 3

   3. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil and sear the meatballs on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes total.

4. 4

   4. Pour the marinara sauce around the meatballs in the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until cooked through.

5. 5

   5. Uncover, lay one mozzarella round on top of each meatball, then place an olive slice in the center of each to form the pupil.

6. 6

   6. Cover the skillet again for 2–3 minutes until the mozzarella is fully melted, then serve immediately straight from the skillet.