How to Make Meatballs

Often thought of as only Italian, meatballs are found in many different cultural dishes. The basic ingredients are the same--ground meat, bread crumbs for filler, herbs and spices for flavor, and eggs to bind everything together. Make meatballs and use different sauces to suit the occasion.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ground beef, pork, veal or a combination
• Basil, Italian spice mix or oregano
• Salt and pepper
• Bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• Sauce

1. Use your choice of meat. Ground beef, pork, veal or a combination of these work well. To lower the fat content, choose ground chicken or turkey.

2. Mix 2 lbs. of ground meat with 1 and 1/2 tbsp. of herbs--basil, Italian spice mix or oregano. Grate 1 cup of fresh parmesan or romano cheese and add with 2 cups of bread crumbs. Salt and pepper, then mix in 2 eggs to bind. If more liquid is needed, slowly add milk. The mixture needs to be moist, but still hold together when formed into balls.

3. Form the meat mixture into balls about 1 and 1/2 inch in diameter. Don't overwork. This results in a denser product.

4. Cook the meatballs using your favorite method. Baking on a rack over a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes is the easiest method, but you can also fry them in a skillet over medium heat for 7 or 8 minutes.

5. Drain completely, add sauce and heat well. Make your own spaghetti sauce, barbeque sauce or brown gravy for best results, but store-bought is acceptable and quicker.

6. Cook in a slow cooker for an alternate method. Brown the meatballs first, then add to slow cooker along with sauce and cook according to manufacturers' instructions.

7. Serve meatballs over cooked rice or noodles and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• When you make the meatballs vary the recipe by adding ketchup, chili sauce, chopped garlic and or parsley to the meat mixture.

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[jstew3]

on 11/18/2007 Check out a cool video on how to make meatballs:
http://video.about.com/italianfood/How-to-Make-Meatballs.htm

They are delicious!