Potatoes with Meatballs And Cheese

This delightful recipe combines the comforting flavors of hearty potatoes, savory meatballs, and creamy béchamel sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a perfect dish for a cozy family dinner. Let’s dive into the preparation steps.

Ingredients:

For the Dish:

• 3 large potatoes
• 1 chopped white onion
• 750 grams (1.6 pounds) beef
• 1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
• 100 grams (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 250 ml (1 cup) basic béchamel sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

For the Béchamel Sauce:

• 1 liter (4 cups) milk
• 75 grams (5 tsp) butter
• 48 grams (4 tbsp) flour
• 10 ml (2 tsp) salt
• 3 ml (½ tsp) nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Basic Béchamel Sauce:
   • In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and stir continuously to form a golden roux, about 6 minutes.
   • Heat the milk until it’s just about to boil, then gradually whisk it into the roux mixture until smooth.
   • Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Season with salt and nutmeg at the end. Set aside.
2. Potatoes and Meatballs:
   • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
   • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, paprika, a teaspoon of chopped parsley, and the chopped onion. Season with salt and pepper, then mix well.
   • Peel the potatoes and boil them until they’re slightly softened but still firm, about 7 minutes. Drain and let them cool enough to handle, then slice.
   • In a pie plate, arrange a layer of potato slices at the bottom and around the edges, standing them up vertically.
   • Form the meat mixture into balls about the size of an ice cream scoop and place them onto the plate, using the remaining potato slices to separate the meatballs and create small sections.
   • Carefully pour the béchamel sauce into each compartment until full. Ensure that each meatball and potato section is adequately covered.
   • Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
3. Baking:
   • Place the pie plate in the preheated oven and bake until the meatballs are cooked through, the potatoes are tender, and the cheese is bubbly and golden, about 25-30 minutes.
   • Once baked, allow it to cool slightly before garnishing with fresh parsley.