Do you enjoy Italian food and would like to explore other pizza flavors? Then you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re giving center stage to Tuscan polpette pizza, a meal that captures the essence of Tuscan flavors.
In case you’re wondering what “polpette” means, the simple answer is “meatballs.” Yes, you read that right—a pizza with savory meatballs, fresh mozzarella, and a vibrant tomato sauce.
At Sauce Buckhead, our goal is for our customers to discover the best of Italian culinary traditions mixed with innovative techniques. In other words, we are proud of sharing the art of good food with Atlanta’s diners.
In this guide, we’ll explore the elements of Tuscan cuisine, the perfect recipe to make polpette (aka meatballs), and the unforgettable experience of trying this dish at Sauce Buckhead. Ready?
Exploring Tuscan Cuisine
If you haven’t heard of Tuscan cuisine before, here are some key characteristics that’ll help you know a bit more about it.
Tuscany extends from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apuan Alps, with more than 3,600,000 inhabitants distributed in 10 Italian provinces. Tuscan cuisine dates as far back as the Etruscan people and the Roman Empire, but its most relevant period was the Renaissance.
courtesy of wikipedia.org
Nowadays, Tuscany is the second most popular Italian region for tourists after Veneto. In that sense, this region is well-known for its agricultural bounty. This means that the locals had fertile soil for growing grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
As a consequence, people of the time emphasized the importance of using fresh and locally sourced ingredients to make their food. This approach showcases the authenticity and simplicity that defines Tuscan cuisine.
However, throughout history, there have been times when food was scarce, and poverty forced peasants to make the most out of limited resources.
The concept of cucina povera, which translates to “peasant cuisine,” became one of the pillars of Tuscan cuisine, given that peasants used humble ingredients, such as beans, offal, and stale bread, to make delicious meals.
Key Ingredients and Flavors
As mentioned earlier, Tuscan cuisine is characterized by its rich flavors, rustic simplicity, and fresh ingredients.
Some of the key ingredients of Tuscan cuisine include:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Pecorino cheese (made with sheep’s milk)
- Beans
- Truffles
- Chianti wine
- Bread
Tuscan cuisine is known for its earthy and robust flavors. Moreover, fresh herbs like rosemary and sage paired with the sweetness of ripe tomatoes help balance the dishes. The key to staying true to their origins is using seasonal and fresh ingredients.
Making the Perfect Polpette
Next, we’ll focus on the star of the day: Tuscan polpette. As we have said, polpette translates to meatballs. But of course, these are not like any other regular meatballs, as they carry the essence of Tuscan cuisine.
If you’d like to prepare Tuscan polpette at home, follow the recipe below:
Ingredients
For the Polpette:
- 1 pound ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/4 pound prosciutto, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- Olive oil for frying
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the polpette. In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, chopped prosciutto, breadcrumbs, milk, beaten egg, parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a golf ball.
- Fry the polpette. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the meatballs until they are browned on all sides. Remove them from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the tomato sauce. In the same skillet, add more olive oil if necessary, and sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the fried meatballs to the sauce and simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Serve. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve the polpette warm, either on their own or over a bed of pasta or with crusty bread.
There you have it. It doesn’t seem so difficult, right? Now, imagine all those delicious flavors on top of a pizza. It’s a recipe for success!
Conclusion: Taste Tuscan Polpette Pizza at Sauce Buckhead
Why should you try Tuscan polpette pizza at Sauce Buckhead? Well, this thin-crust pizza features an extraordinary combination of Italian mozzarella, a flavorful tomato sauce, and the main protagonist: savory Tuscan meatballs. But that’s not all.
Pizza is the perfect canvas for the flavors of the polpette, making it an outstanding meal overflowing with the most savory ingredients. We suggest pairing it with Chianti or Sangiovese wine, which will enhance the rustic flavors of the dish.
So, if you’re looking for an Italian restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere, personalized service, and high-quality food, Sauce Buckhead is the place to go!
Head over to our menu to explore the myriad of options we have to offer. We promise you won’t regret it!
