Ricotta And Pork Meatballs

• 12 ounces crustless white bread
• 2 pounds ground pork
• 4 ounces thickly sliced pancetta, minced
• 4 large eggs, whisk lightly
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fennel pollen
• 2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 28 oz cans whole imported tomatoes
• 1 14 oz can tomato puree
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese or Locatelli

1. Preheat the oven to 400u0b0.
2. In a food processor, pulse the bread to make coarse crumbs. There should be about 6 cups. Transfer half the crumbs to a large bowl and add the pork, pancetta, eggs, ricotta, parsley, oregano, fennel seeds, fennel pollen, pepper and, salt. Mix together by hand being careful not to over work the mix.
3. Shape into 2"meatballs, using a cookie dough spoon. Transfer the meatballs to an oiled or parchment papered rimmed cookie sheet. There should be approximately 30 meatballs.
4. Roast the meatballs in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until firm and just beginning to brown. Gently loosen meatballs and transfer them to (2 )10 x 14 casserole pans
5. Process the two cans of tomatoes and can of tomato puree together with a little salt and pepper and pour over meatballs. Lower the oven temperature to 300u0b0 and cook uncovered for about 1 1/2 hours . You can do this ahead of time.
6. 30 minutes prior to serving, preheat or turn up oven to 350 degrees.
7. Heat the olive oil in a small saute pan. Add garlic and chili flakes until garlic just starts to color. Take off heat and carefully slip basil into pan. Let cool 5 minutes.
8. Mix the remaining breadcrumbs with the oil mixture together. Add the cheese and a few twists of fresh pepper. Sprinkle over meatballs and bake for 30 minutes.

white bread, ground pork, pancetta, eggs, ricotta cheese, flatleaf, oregano, fennel seeds, fennel pollen, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, tomatoes, tomato puree, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, red chili flakes, basil, freshly grated pecorino romano cheese

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/ricotta-and-pork-meatballs-50009970 (may not work)