Meatballs are considered a staple of Italian-American cuisine, but few people are aware of the dish’s intriguing origins. The history of the meatball spans the globe, from the Middle East to Italy, the U.S., and beyond. Learn more about the roots of this tasty dish served at your favorite Italian restaurant. 

The History of Meatballs

The Origins

While the precise origin of the meatball is uncertain, it’s been suggested that this dish originated in Persia as a dish called kofta, which was made from finely chopped or pounded leftover lamb, chicken, beef, or pork mixed with mashed lentils or rice, and shaped into spheres. By the 1800s, the meatball was defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as any raw or cooked meat shaped into a ball. Though the definition of this term is broad, different cultures have created their variation of the dish for generations. In Spain, diners enjoy has albondigas. China’s meatballs are called “lion’s heads.” Meanwhile, countless variants of kofta are served in countries such as India, Morocco, and Turkey. 

Italian Influence

The modern Italian-American meatball originated with a Southern Italian dish called the polpette, which were made with any meat, including poultry and fish. They were often no bigger than golf balls and often eaten plain as an entree. Due to the low incomes of Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these early American meatballs were made with the cheapest cuts of meat and cooked almost exclusively at home, not restaurants.

American Popularity

The meatball’s low cost and flexibility recipes made the dish a popular option for Italian-Americans by the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The dish quickly took on its own life as chefs paired it with marinara sauce and spaghetti, which were seen as convenient and inexpensive options at the time. Today, people throughout the country flock to Italian-American restaurants for delicious meatballs, whether they’re served with pasta, broth, or in a sandwich. It’s a simple but satisfying meal, and with countless recipes available, there’s a meatball to satisfy every taste. 

For a tasty meatball sub or pizza, head over to Colombini’s Pizza & Deli in Rochester, NY. This family-owned and -operated restaurant has used fresh ingredients to make its foods by hand daily for 35 years. They offer a wide assortment of mouthwatering meal options, including pizzas, subs, cold cut sandwiches, and chicken wings as well as several tasty side dishes. Call (585) 889-2213 to place your order today, or visit the restaurant online for a look at their full menu.