Thursday, November 13, 2008

BRODO COLLE PALLINE


On 15th November we are officially allowed to "light up", that is, to switch the central heating on, here in the Ragusa area and this is the first in four Sicilian winters when I have almost arrived at that date without desperately longing to switch it on before. The temperature has been a pleasant 18 C on most days recently but Saturday was cloudy and rainy, so Irma decided to make brodo colle palline [broth with little meatballs] to start lunch:

First make your broth which you can, of course, do well in advance: You will need a half kilo piece of chuck beef steak or similar cut; the meat should have a little fat on it. Put this in a pan with abundant water, a tomato, some celery, an onion and seasalt and boil for about 2.5 hours, until the meat is tender. Strain it and keep the broth. To make the meatballs, mix 200 gr minced beef with some breadcrumbs, grated parmesan , chopped parsley, crushed garlic, salt and egg to bind and form the mixture into tiny balls with your hands. Bring the broth to the boil, add the meatballs and boil for 1 minute. Then add some pastine [small pasta - about 100 gr per person] and cook until the pasta is ready. There should still be a lot of liquid at the end of cooking. [Serves 4 - 6.]

This is just the thing to make you feel loved and comforted on a cooler, autumn day in Sicily - or on a stormy night like this one, now that I come to think of it!

11 comments:

Leslie: said...

Imagine thinking that 18C is cold enough for soup! I'd be out at the beach in skivvies in that temp! lol

jmb said...

That looks and sounds delicious Welshcakes and should hit the spot on a cold day. Hope you are feeling better as each day goes by.

Sally said...

True inspiration - just when I was wondering what to cook for dinner. I haven't made this delicious brodo for ages. Buon appetito, tutti!

Dragonstar said...

There's nothing like a warm, tasty soup in cold weather!

Trubes said...

Mmmm.. that looks and sounds delicious Welshcakes, obviously a lot of love and care has gone into the broth, I will try that recipe.
We've had our heating on for weeks,even though I make a lot of soup!
Lentil and bacon ribs is a favourite along with minestrone soup also lamb and barley broth.
I use a pressure cooker to make my soups it cuts down the cooking time tremendously.
Hope you are getting better by the day, nothing like some lovely home made soup to build a girl up!

Di.x

jams o donnell said...

Delicious. Now I want an early lunch...I must come here on a full stomach!

Whispering Walls said...

Are you feeling any better, WL?

James Higham said...

18 degrees in Sicily. I can only dream of it. :)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Leslie. Yes, strange, that, isn't it? As a Brit I don't feel "warm" until it's at least 20 C! Hi, jmb. Yes, just right for cooler days. I'm a bit better each day, thanks. Ciao, Sally. I hope it turned out well. I totally agree, dragonstar. Hi, Trubes. I think lentil soup is truly comforting. I've azlways been scared of pressure cookers but people use them a lot here. Love to you and Chloe xx Hi, jams. Sorry about that! Ciao, WW. Yes, a little, thanks. Much better when I am at home but still wobbly when out! The temp drops quickly at night now, though, James.

Liz Hinds said...

It is a chilly one here this morning. Especially as George is outside and I have the front door open. By the way, George says 'woof' to Simi and asks how the walkies are going?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Liz. Simi says: "Hi, George. My mummy still isn't 100 paw cent so I'm only taking her on short walks at the moment. Did you have a good bark at those fireworks? Woof! Luv, Simi xx "

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