Sausage Meatballs and Rice Timbale - Sartù di Riso alla Napoletana - All that's Jas

A front shot of sliced Neapolitan Sausage Meatballs and Rice Timbale

Sausage Meatballs and Rice Timbale - Sartù di Riso alla Napoletana

Impress your guests with this amazing, traditional Neapolitan rice timbale with sausage, meatballs, peas, and cheese that is chock-full of Italian flavors.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 1 20

Cooling Time 15

Total Time 2 20

Servings -10 servings

Calories 698kcal

Author Jas

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound Arborio rice 2 ⅓ cups
4 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons salt
1 dried bay leaf
3 cups freshly grated Parmesan
4 large eggs at room temperature
¼ cup olive oil
8 ounces bulk hot Italian sausage
1 clove garlic minced
1 shallot sliced
2 sprigs basil
One 2-inch piece Parmesan rind
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons whole milk at room temperature
7 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces ground beef
Olive oil for frying
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup frozen peas thawed
One 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella diced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large saucepan combine the rice, chicken broth, salt, and the bay leaf. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat to low, and simmer, stirring once, until the rice is still slightly undercooked but the liquid is absorbed, about 8-10 minutes.
Pour the rice into a large bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 ½ cups of the parmesan cheese and 3 of the eggs until well combined. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage to the hot oil and cook until browned, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a medium bowl and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic and shallots. Cook, stirring constantly until fragrant and the shallots are soft, 1 minute. Add the basil, cheese rind, and tomatoes, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the basil and cheese rind. Add 2 cups of the sauce to the reserved sausage and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a separate medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs, the milk, and the remaining egg with a fork and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken. Stir in the oregano and the remaining ½ cup cheese. Using your hands, mix in the beef, until just combined.
Cover the surface of a cast-iron or non-stick frying pan with ½-inch olive oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Scoop 1-tablespoon mounds of the meatball mixture into damp hands and roll into uniform balls.
When the oil is hot, fry the balls in 2 batches, turning them as needed with a slotted spoon to brown the balls evenly, about 4 minutes. When golden brown and crispy all around, remove the balls using a slotted spoon to the bowl with the sausage and sauce. Continue with the remaining balls, and then toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using 1 tablespoon of the butter, grease the inside of a bundt pan or a 3 ½-quart Dutch oven, making sure to coat it very well. Dust the inside of the pan with 3 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs. Make sure it is evenly coated and there are no bald spots. This is very important to prevent sticking.
Add the peas and diced mozzarella to the meat and sauce, and toss gently to incorporate. Spoon two-thirds of the rice mixture into the prepared bundt pan. Using damp hands, press the rice evenly over the bottom of the pan and almost all the way up the sides and middle of the pan (leave about 2-inches from the top).
Spoon the meat filling into the well of rice and press gently to make sure it is evenly packed. Spoon the remaining rice over the filling and, using damp hands, press the rice evenly over the filling, being sure to press the rice on top into the rice along the edges to seal. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and dot with the remaining ½ tablespoon butter. Bake until lightly browned on top, 45 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes.
Place a plate large enough to cover the top of the pan over the pan. Using heat-resistant pads or a towel, invert the sartu onto the plate. Carefully lift the pan off of the rice, shaking gently if needed. Warm the remaining sauce and fill the opening in the middle of the molded rice with the sauce to serve

Notes

If you can't find bulk Italian sausage, use sausage links, casings removed and broken down into small, bite-sized pieces.
It's important to use a non-stick or cast-iron skillet for browning the meatballs, otherwise, they will fall apart!
Grease your bundt pan generously with butter and coat well with breadcrumbs leaving no "bold" spots.
This rice timbale dish will keep well in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave.
Remember to let it rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on its products.

Nutrition