Chicken Sausage Meatballs

These chicken sausage meatballs can be served by themselves as appetizers, or simmer in your favorite tomato sauce for at least a half hour to infuse the sauce with flavor from the meatballs. Serve meatballs and sauce over al-dente cooked pasta.

Ingredients

For 2 Dozen(s)

For the Meatballs:

2 pounds chicken sausage, casing removed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic
3/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped
1 1/8 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese,
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless Italian bread cut in 1/4 inch pieces
2 eggs, whisked in a small bowl
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 tablespoons black pepper, freshly ground

Directions

If using fresh bread, trim crusts and cut into 1/4" pieces and toast on baking sheets in 300 degree oven for about 10 minutes, until completely dry. Can do a day ahead. Place bread crumbs in a bowl and add milk. Stir until bread crumbs are evenly moistened. Let stand 10 minutes.
Remove the Chichen Sausage Rolls from casing and place in a large bowl and break up into small chunks.
Add the minced garlic, pepper, grated cheese and parsley. Using hands, gently mix together. Squeeze the milk from the bread crumbs, reserving milk.
Add bread crumbs to meat mixture, gently mix together.
Add the eggs and mix until all ingredients are evenly combined, but don't over mix. Moisten hands with some of the reserved milk and shape into 1 3/4" - 2" diameter meatballs, and place on a baking sheet.
Flatten the meatballs slightly, so they'll brown evenly on both sides.
In a large 12" skillet, add enough olive oil to cover about 1/8" of the bottom. On medium high heat, brown meatballs 5 minutes per side. Don't over crowd skillet. They should be lightly browned on both sides.