Giada's Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs

Giada's Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs

1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 Lg. eggs, lightly beaten
1 Tbsp. whole milk
1 Tbsp. ketchup
3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Salt and pepper
1 lb. ground chicken
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lb. orecchiette pasta
1 1/2 cup lower sodium chicken broth
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
8 oz. bocconcini (small mozzarella balls), halved
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat large covered saucepot of salted water to boiling on high.
2. In medium bowl, stir bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Pecorino, 3/4 tsp. salt and 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper until blended. Add chicken; mix well. With melon baller scoop mixture and roll into 3/4 inch mini meatballs.
3. In 12-inch skillet on medium, heat oil until hot. Working in batches, add meatballs and cook 4 minutes or until browned, turning over halfway through cooking. Transfer meatballs to plate once they are browned. Pour off any fat in skillet.
4. While meatballs are browning, in saucepot of boiling water, cook pasta 8 to 10 mins. or until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally.
5. When meatballs are browned, increase heat to medium-high. Return meatballs to skillet; add chicken broth and tomatoes and heat to boiling, stirring to loosen any browned bits. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 mins. or until tomatoes are soft and meatballs are cooked through.
6. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water; drain pasta. Transfer pasta to serving bowl and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Toss to coat pasta, adding 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water (or more if necessary) to help make a sauce. Stir in meatball mixture, bocconcini, and 1/2 cup basil. To serve, garnish with remaining Parmesan and basil.

Makes 6 servings.

Source: Your GoodHouse Sept. 2009

I would put the calorie information, but you'd scoff.

Oh..., okay.

Each serving
About 735 calories, 48 g protein, 70 g carbohydrate, 29 g total fat (12 g saturated) 4 g fiber, 169 mg cholesterol, 1095 mg sodium.

Ok, ok, make it on a special occasion! It's good!

Mouthwatering!

Enjoy....