Popette D’uova from Massimo Bruno
Nothing prepared us for how amazing these little fried balls of egg smothered in tomato sauce would be. Popette D’uova is a sophisticated name for an easy and delicious dish!
I love this dish by chef Massimo Bruno and the Italian name for them but something is lost in translation by calling them ‘egg balls!’ They are a light and delicious dish; meant as an appetizer but my daughter and I ate them one night for our meal.
I had some friends coming over after work for a glass of wine and thought this looked easy enough to pull together without a lot of advance preparation or shopping.
I had first considered digging out my little frying machine (with some dread) but I decided to try making them on the stovetop and they fried just perfectly in a large skillet.
In a hurry one night to make these for last minute company; I did what I would call a ‘Sandra Lee’ and used a jar of good sauce already seasoned with garlic and basil that I had in the pantry.
I warmed it, added some fresh basil (easy because I grow it in the summer) and some additional water and then finished the dish per instructions. I can not say I could discern a huge difference…and in truth is what I’ll do more often.
Popette D’uova are easy; from start to finish only about 30 minutes and they are SO good; way better than I envisioned. My daughter make them two nights in a row, that’s how much we loved them; they seriously are THAT good. What are you waiting for?
They look as beautiful as they taste and this quick appetizer was perfect after a last minute phone call and the announcement friends were coming over with wine!
Makes approximately 10-12 individual balls; enough to serve four people as an appetizer although I could have very easily done this for myself and my daughter and called it dinner!
Massimo Bruno’s Popette D’uova
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1 15 oz tomatoes peeled, canned
- 1 bunch fresh basil
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 garlic cloves
For the Popettes
- ½ cup Romano cheese freshly grated
- ½ cup panko
- 2 Tbsp parsley chopped
- 1 tsp sea salt
- oil for frying
Instructions
- To Make the Sauce
- Blend the tomatoes in a food processor.
- Gently heat the olive oil in a sauce pan and add the garlic and cook until very light golden brown.
- Add the tomatoes plus enough water to rinse the container to the garlic in the pan, than add the basil and sea salt and let simmer for 30 minutes. You will have a very liquid sauce; the popettes will absorb the liquid as they cook in it.
- To Cook the Popettes
- Beat the eggs then slowly add the cheese, then the bread crumbs, the parsley, the baking soda, and sea salt and mix all together. You should have a semi-solid consistency; if necessary add additional bread crumbs and cheese until you can form the mixture into balls.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan, deep enough to cook them halfway up their height; the oil is ready when you splash a little flour in it and it drizzles. It's important to be hot enough or the popettes will absorb the oil.
- Gently put them into the hot oil; turning them over when they’re lightly brown, about a minute per side. Drain thoroughly on paper towels.
- Put them in the sauce and let them cook for another half hour to absorb the liquid; you might have to add additional water as there should be some sauce left in the pan to serve them with.
- Serve on small plates, top with sauce, and garnish with additional cheese and basil if desired.
I hope you will respond even this is sooo late. I just made the recipe and they turned out picture perfect, also, very easy even with making the sauce. I have NO idea how these should taste or what kind of mouth feel they should have. I used 1 C + 1/4 C Panko to get them to hold together. They are a bit heavier than I thought they’d be. I was expecting almost an eggy custard filling. So what are they supposed to be like? Or are mine too dense?
Taste great anyway.
Nancy
I haven’t had them in years but they are maybe a bit dense; we’ve had them for a meal instead of appetizer. The bread crumbs will make them heavier than if they are all egg. But if you liked them…all that matters right? Now I want some!
Love the concept. You wouldn’t miss meat at all. Great for entertaining.
This is SO interesting!!! Thanks for the info, and I agree:
Delizioso!
Here’s one from Mario, too! I forget where he’s from…
Meatless Meatballs: Polpette di Lupo
Recipe copyright Mario Batali, 2002. All rights reserved.
Ingredients
1 pound stale country-style bread, crusts removed and cut into thick slices
1 1/2 cups milk
3 large eggs
1/2 cup grated pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/2 bunch Italian parsley, leaves chopped to yield 2 tablespoons
1 bunch basil, leaves chopped
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper
Aha! My grandmother is from Abruzzo; she says poLpette. She does not make this particular “meat”-or not-ball, but does make big and small and medium meatballs. She will love this, though!!!
I found this website; calls Popette ‘Meatless Meatballs’ so Massimo not alone in that! I just call them GOOD!
@Lynn – this recipe is directly from Massimo Bruno and it is possibly the way they say it in Puglia where he is from, dialect differs slightly…
Isn’t it poLpette? v. popette?? Meatballs? Polpette, polpettone (big ones), polpettini (tiny ones)? Nonetheless, they sound fabulous!!
Looks great! I’ve never had Popette D’uova, but they look so good. I think I would really like this dish.
Be careful…they are SO good. We made some for company and then lamented why did we share! 🙂
Wow. Another one bookmarked!
You have got to try these Lea Ann; the ratio of simplicity to results is off the charts! Guests devoured them and best of all; perfect to make a day ahead and reheat.
Barb I am SO glad you tried them and loved them! I think they are my favourite discovery this year!
Mine too…so simple and too good to have been that simple. Thanks Mardi and Massimo!
These really do look incredibly delicious! Easy is good, especially this time of year when everyone wants to be outdoors more. Your post may have convinced me to make these for a cocktail party I am hosting very soon. I could almost grab one right through the screen they look so good!
Do it; can be made ahead of time too and warmed up. Mardi says even better the next day but I don’t think we’ll ever have any leftovers here.
Ooooh, I have been dying to make these since I read Mardi’s post, and now I’m in AGONY! MUST MAKE THEM NOW!!!