Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs

Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs. Planning a party or gathering? These are perfect little appetizers that not only pack a flavor punch, more so they are so easy to eat and who can resist a meatball, especially one stuffed with Italian olives and cheese? A must try for sure!

Song of the day: "Once in a Lifetime" by The Talking Heads

Inspired by an appetizer

I have to say I love watching cooking competitions on the Food Network. It is a great thing to bring inspiration into your kitchen. These Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs, were something I saw on a show called Ciao House. It is cast in a villa in Tuscany where chefs compete for the coveted prize. Tuscan is so beautiful and the ingredients are just amazing. The show featured Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabriele Bertaccini. It was in one of these episodes that they made a stuffed sausage meatball, and I was ultimately sold on the idea. Today I am proud and excited to share this wonderful appetizer with you!

Why you want to make these Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs

If I were to try to convince you to try these, I would start with this:

• They are super crispy delicious!
• Who doesn't love some Italian sausage meat?
• Easy to make
• Take very little time
• Meatballs are always a crowd pleaser

Ingredients for these stuffed meatballs

Now that I have your attention and you are craving these Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs so much that you want to make them with me. That is exactly what we are going to do. First we need to gather up the ingredients. Here is our list:

• Italian sausages
• Eggs
• Fresh parsley
• Grated Parmigiano
• Italian breadcrumbs
• Day-old bread
• Milk
• Castelvetrano olives
• Cheese
• Salt and pepper

How to make Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs

I am one of those organized cook. Planning is key and I do this particular recipe in stages. Here is how we rock it:

• Firstly we have to get our sausage meat all mixed up. Take the sausage and cut the casing off and place the meat into a medium bowl. Now take the day-old bread and take the inside crumb and break it up into a ramekin, and pour the milk over it. Let that sit and allow the bread to soak up the milk.
• Secondly, add the grated Parmigiano, fresh chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and then squeeze the milk out of the bread and place it into the meat mixture. Time to get those hands into the mix and combine all the ingredients until the mixture is well incorporated. Lastly, add some Italian breadcrumbs and mix again. If the mixture is too wet, add more Italian breadcrumbs. Set aside.
• Thirdly, prep the olives by pitting them. Also, cut the cheese into small rectangular pieces big enough to fit into the Castelvetrano olives.
• Fourthly, crack the eggs into a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and whisk. In another shallow dish pour in some Italian breadcrumbs.
• Lastly, time to roll and coat. Take a good tablespoon of the meat mixture, place some cheese into an olive. Flatten the meat in the palm of your hand, place the cheese stuffed olive in the center. Then close the meat all around the olive until it is totally encased. Roll the meat in between your palms forming a nice round meatball.
• Now, place the meatball into the egg wash, rolling it all around so all of the meatball gets the egg wash.
• Place the meatball into the bread crumbs and move it around so the meatball gets covered in the breadcrumbs.

Give the Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs another roll

After the meatballs are coated in the breadcrumbs, I like to give them a roll in my hands to make sure the breadcrumbs are going to stick. Repeat the whole process until all the meat mixture is used up. You should have 9 beautiful olive stuffed sausage meatballs.

It is fry time

In a deep pan, pour in your peanut or safflower oil. Put enough so the meatballs are almost submerged. Here is how we fry these stuffed meatballs:

• Turn heat on and bring oil to around 350°F. Check it with an oil thermometer.
• Now carefully place the meatballs in and fry till golden brown. You have to turn them in the oil so that they cook evenly. Take them out and place on a paper towel lined plate.
• Ready to serve.

TIP: When frying, especially these Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs, fry a few at a time so the oil temp doesn't drop too drastically. I fried 3 at a time. However, this also depends on how deep your pan is or if you are using a deep fryer.

Gotta love a golden crispy Crispy olive stuffed fried sausage meatballs

I am seriously drooling. These look so enticing, I even tapped one with a fork to hear that lovely sound of crispiness. The aroma is incredible, and all I can think about is breaking one open to see how moist they are.

Oooh now that is one good looking meatball

Look at the inside of this meatball. That sausage meat is so moist, the olive still vibrant in color, and there is that pool of melted cheese. I just have to have a bite. It is calling me!

Finally, a bite

Okay, this is outrageously tasty. I love the sausage meat, it is so tender, and it meets all the expectation on seasoning that I know from Italian sausage. The outside is super crispy and the stuffed olive inside with that creamy cheese, just a delight for the tastebuds.

And if you like meatballs, we have a few good ones:

• Polpette in bianco like mamma used to make
• Pork and beef Italian meatballs in tomato sauce (Polpette al sugo)
• Spiced Meatballs with Greek Yogurt Mint Sauce
• Albondigas, Spanish-style Meatballs
• Polpette di pane e zucchine all'Arrabbiata

Buon appetito!

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