The Story of Italian Meatballs

The Story of Italian Meatballs When it comes to comfort food, few dishes can compete with the warm, saucy hug that Italian meatballs bring to the table. These humble little orbs of joy have a special way of turning any meal into a celebration. Whether you're a spaghetti fan or someone who eats them straight out of the pot (no judgment), Italian meatballs have a charm that’s impossible to resist. The History (Or, Who Thought Rolling Meat Was a Good Idea?) Legend has it, meatballs didn’t even originate in Italy—gasp! While variations of meatballs exist worldwide, from Swedish köttbullar to Middle Eastern kofta, the Italian version has certainly stolen the show. In Italy, meatballs (or polpette) are typically smaller and often served as a side dish or appetizer. The idea of pairing them with pasta? That’s more of an Italian-American twist. Funny how something so Italian isn’t that Italian, right? Kind of like how garlic bread isn’t an authentic Italian thing either. Who’s been lying to us this whole time?