Polpette di cavallo

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Polpette di cavallo is a spin on the classic Italian meatballs, but it contains horse meat (carne di cavallo) instead of veal or beef. This meat specialty is typically prepared with a mixture of ground horse meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, which is then shaped into meatballs which are the size of a small mandarin orange. They're cooked in various ways - grilled inside lemon leaves, fried, baked, or simmered in sauces. This version of polpette is typical of Sicily (especially Catania), and it is a popular street food item that is commonly consumed as a snack or a second course. These meatballs are often enjoyed drizzled with a vinaigrette consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, parsley or oregano, and they can be placed inside the bread and served as a sandwich or simply served with sauces.