Name of the food we tasted in Little Italy NY?

Question

On a walking tour in Little Italy NY a few years ago, we were in two shops and were given samples of food, kind of a stuffed meatball among other things. Does anyone know the names, I want to try and find the recipes.

Answer 1

Italian-style meatballs are stuffed with miniature balls of mozzarella cheese and baked before being served with a vodka tomato sauce over pasta of your choice. Grated carrots melt into the tomato sauce and help neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes without adding any carrot flavor. The vodka may be omitted if necessary. The sauce works well on its own for any pasta dish. The meatball mixture may be formed into a meatloaf, with or without the mozzarella cheese stuffing

INGREDIENTS:

Vodka Sauce:

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup minced sweet onion

4 cloves garlic, pressed

2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-cut tomatoes

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

1 large carrot, finely grated

2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried

2 cups water

1/4 cup vodka

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Meatballs:

1-1/2 pounds ground beef (preferably 80/20 ground chuck)

1/2 pound Italian-style pork sausage

2 extra-large eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

3 cloves garlic, pressed

1/2 cup minced sweet onion

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

24 (about) small balls fresh mozzarella cheese (about 1-inch in diameter each - see Note)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

Hot cooked pasta such as penne, rigati, ziti, or linguine

Fresh oregano sprigs for garnish (optional)

PREPARATION:

Prepare vodka sauce: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add minced sweet onion and gently sweat onions until soft.

Add pressed garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, grated carrot, oregano, water, and vodka, stirring to combine. Gently simmer until thickened and vegetables begin to disintegrate. Add additional water if tomato sauce becomes too thick. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. While sauce is cooking, prepare meatballs.

Answer 2

There's a chef on PBS called Lydia.  I believe I've seen her make a stuffed meatball on her show.  Maybe you could try her website Lydiasitaly.com..  Hope you can find it.