Rosmarin in Culo: Meatballs in Sun-Dried Tomato Ketchup

Name: Rosmarin in Culo: Meatballs in Sun-Dried Tomato Ketchup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 29 min
Total time: 59 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1/2 cups (118 ml) sun-dried tomato halves; 1/2 cups (118 ml) boiling water; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 cups (59 ml) onion; 1 clove garlic; 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp tomato paste; Pinch of salt; Pinch of chili flakes; 2 lbs (907 g) meat; 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary; 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves; 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

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Inspired by the famous Tuscan butcher, Dario Cecchini, these meatballs are freshly ground and served medium-rare, skewered with rosemary.

The first time I stepped into the butcher shop, Antica Macelleria Cecchini, I was immediately approached by a handsome young man with a stack of glasses and a big fiasco of Chianti. He smiled, poured me a glass, and invited me to help myself to some snacks. On a long marble table there was a display of thinly sliced meats including a spicy salami and melt in your mouth sopressetta, a bowl of Dario’s famous burro Chianti, olives, and a big plate of Tuscan bread drizzled with Dario’s own olive oil. The burro is whipped pork fat infused with porfumo di chianti, Dario’s spice mix. It tasted like heaven. I left the shop a little tipsy, but I did manage to pick up some of Dario’s salami and that thoroughly addictive burro Chianti for a picnic later.

Did you ever fantasize about something, really build it up in your head, only to be disappointed by reality? Well, that’s not what happened here. I visited the shop regularly during our stay, I actually got to meet Dario and see him in action breaking down a side of beef. I even scored an autographed bottle of olive oil. In fact, one evening while loitering just outside the kitchen door of SoloCiccila, Chris and I met an American chef apprenticing with Dario, his name was Nick. The next few hours were spent at the enoteca on the corner drinking wine and talking food. Nick’s passion for cooking was infectious. I was pretty excited to hear about his experiences with Dario. I still laugh when I think of the way he described the powerful vegetable cravings associated with 9 weeks of total meat immersion. “I’m having vivid dreams about kale and other leafy greens!” Our charming and strikingly beautiful hostess for the evening was the owner of the enoteca, Misti. If you happen to visit Panzano, don’t miss this little boutique wine shop.

Solociccila is one of three meat centric restaurants run by Dario, in addition to his famous butcher shop. Translated, Solociccila means ‘only meat’, and the menu is a six course prix fixe parade of beef. Each course celebrating different unusual cuts, it is meant to be a sort of nose to tail experience. This restaurant is located just across the street from the butcher shop, look for the life size technicolor cow out front.

The recipe I want to share is inspired by one of the items on SoloCiccila’s menu, Rosmarin in Culo, or Rosemary up the bum, a homemade meatball skewered on a sprig of fresh rosemary. Dario’s version is closer to a seared steak tartar, mine is more of a homemade beef sausage ball cooked to a medium, medium-rare.

Channeling my inner butcher, I decided to grind my own meat for this recipe. I used a combination of beef and pork, and aimed for about 20% fat in the mixture. As a nod to Dario’s ‘cheeky’ name for the dish, I wanted to use some beef cheeks in the ground meat. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to source any in Halifax, so I went for pork cheeks in form of guanciale. Guanciale is an Italian cured meat made from the cheek and jowl of of the pig, and lucky for me, Charcuterie Ratinaud makes amazing guanciale locally. I used these instructions from The Kitchn to grind the meat using my food processor and I made a relatively small batch, about 1 kilogram. The ratios for these juicy, flavourful meatballs was 10% guanciale, 20% sirloin, 70% chuck. I cut the meat into cubes no bigger than an inch before grinding. To season the mixture I added 1 garlic clove (finely minced), 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.

The most important thing to remember when grinding your own meat is to have everything very cold. I chilled the processor bowl and blade as well the meat in the freezer for about 30 minutes before I started grinding.

To make this version of Rosmarin in Culo, just roll the ground meat mixture into balls about the size of a walnut. Cook in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat, shaking the pan to keep the balls rolling and evenly brown on all sides. It should take 7-9 minutes for about a medium depending on the size of your balls. Skewer each ball on a sprig of fresh rosemary and serve with homemade sundried tomato ketchup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of meat should I use for the meatballs?

For the meatballs, use freshly ground beef, ideally from a quality source like a local butcher, to capture the essence of the Tuscan style.

How do I ensure the meatballs are cooked medium-rare?

To achieve medium-rare meatballs, cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C), and keep a close eye on them to avoid overcooking.