Venison Meatballs with Marinara

Seasonal dining includes making the most of what is available locally. As the fall season begins, we invite you to visit our new restaurant 1816 Modern Kitchen & Drinks in Corydon, Indiana, where Chef Scott Dickenson offers Southern-style gastropub cuisine, including this recipe:

September 16, 2019

Ingredients

1½ pounds venison, ground
1 pound pork, ground
1 egg
1 sprig thyme, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
1 cup Parmesan, divided into ½ cups, shredded
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Marinara sauce

1 (16-ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 stem basil, picked
1 sprig thyme, picked
¼ red onion, julienned
⅓ cup red wine
¼ cup oil
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Meatballs: Add ½ cup Parmesan and all ingredients except panko into a large bowl. Mix well. Slowly add panko and continue mixing. If mixture begins to dry, stop adding panko and wet with a little water. Begin adding panko until mixed thoroughly. Roll into balls. Add small amount of water is crumbly. Place meatballs on a large rimmed baking sheet and cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly.

Marinara: Add red onion and oil to pot and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté with until toasted. Deglaze with wine and add thyme and seasoning. Reduce by half then add tomatoes. Bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Add basil and blend with immersion blender until smooth.
M Place meatballs on plate and cover with sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and thyme on top.

About this recipe

Looking for a low-stress way to entertain for the holidays? Let MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, or 1816 Modern Kitchen & Drinks do the heavy lifting. We’ll bring a network of local chefs to your next lunch or dinner party or business gathering. Menus are customized and developed by Southern Indiana and Louisville’s established and aspiring chefs based on your budget and food preferences. Perfect for holiday celebrations. Contact us to learn more.