Meatball is definitely a delightful and delicious dish for the non-vegetarians. You will find different methods of preparing meatballs in different countries. The recipes may be different but the basis of making meatballs would be the same i.e. ground meat like beef, chicken, pork, mutton, vegetables and sometimes a combination of these. Meatballs can form a part of main meal too and spaghetti meatballs for example are known the world over. Similarly, it can also be served as appetizer or stuffed in a sandwich, making it a popular dish among people. If you want to learn how to make a batch of tasty meatballs here’s one of the simple recipes for meatball preparation.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 30 to 40 minutes
Resources Required:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground veal
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
- 1 1/2 table spoons of any herb you prefer
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- 1 cup oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Large bowl
- Large skillet
- Spatula
Instructions:
1. Mixing
- It is important that all the ingredients used for the meatballs are thinly sliced. Run them through a food processor if required.
- Place the ground beef, veil and pork into a large bowl, breaking it down lightly.
- Add the minced garlic, beaten eggs, cheese, herbs and season with enough salt and pepper.
- Put in the bread crumbs and then gently mix well with your hands, making sure the ingredients are all well combined and as evenly as possible. Don’t over-mix them.
- Add more bread crumbs if you find the mix to be too moist.
2. Making the meatballs
- Once the mixture is well combined and of right consistency, then you can start making small balls out of it.
- If you like, you can use an ice cream scoop to scoop out the meat to get even sizes or you can just use your hand.
- Have a tray ready and then wet your hands lightly and roll small pieces of meat using your palms. Place on the tray as and when done.
3. Cooking the meatballs
- Once you have used up all the meat, you are ready to fry up the balls. Place a large skillet on medium high heat and pour in the oil and wait for it to heat up.
- Place the meatballs into the pan as quickly as possible, leaving enough space between them. Don’t overcrowd the pan or the meatballs will start steaming rather than frying and it would also be difficult to roll them around.
- Using a spatula, roll the meatballs on to the other side, after about a minute or so.
- The more sides you are able to cook, the more rounder your meatballs would be. Once cooked, drain on paper towels.
- Continue the process till all the meatballs are cooked.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How can I freeze the meatballs?
Meatballs are one of those food items that work wonders when frozen. They can be frozen either raw, just after you have made them into balls or once you have fried them. Either way, make sure you carefully separate them and then pack it in freezer bags or containers to prevent them from breaking once they have defrosted. They will keep for about three months in the freezer.
2. Can I bake meatball instead of frying them?
Yes, you can bake them and it is even a much healthier way of making meatballs. Make them into balls and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Place in an oven preheated at 375F and bake for about 20 minutes.
Quick Tips:
- If you want you can also make a sauce with it. In that case, make the sauce ahead and then add the meatballs to lightly heat them up and then serve.
- Add Italian flavorings or herbs to enhance the flavor.
Things To Watch Out For:
- If the meat mixture is too moist, they might break once you fry them.
- Over cooking the meatballs can make them dry and less juicier.
