How to Make Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Are you tired of cooking the same old ground beef dished and want to make something that will wake up your taste buds and have your family or guests wondering just exactly how you pulled that one off then why not give Sweet & Sour Meatballs a try? This dish originates in Germany but you do not have to be German to appreciate that sweet tang that comes to life when you mix the vinegar and the sugar. Read on to learn how to make it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 egg
• Salt
• Pepper
• Breadcrumbs
• 1 quart of water
• 1 1/2 cups of vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• Cornstarch

Make Sweet & Sour Meatballs

1. Add the water to a large pot and bring to a boil. In the meantime, crumble up your ground beef in a large bowl. Add the onion, salt, pepper and egg.
2. Mix ground beef mixture with your hands. It will be loose but add breadcrumbs to firm it up. Roll into small to medium sized meatballs and add to the pot of water.
3. Once all of the meatballs are together and in the pot of water, add the vinegar, sugar, and bay leaves. Reduce the heat and let simmer for about 1 hour.
4. Take a spoon and taste just a tiny bit of the liquid mixture in the pot. If it too sweet, add a bit more vinegar. If it is too sour, add a bit more sugar. If it is too bland, then add more of both vinegar and sugar.
5. Put about 1/2 cup of cornstarch in a bowl and add water while whisking until smooth. Bring the heat back up on the meatballs until it comes to a rolling boil. Add the cornstarch mixture and continue to cook while stirring until mixture thickens. By now the liquid will become more of a glazed gravy.

Tips & Warnings

• Creating anything sweet & sour requires an equal blend of vinegar and sugar. Always remember that if it is too sour, sweeten it and if it is too sweet, sour it.
• Never assume with vinegar and sugar, you must taste.
• Remember that vinegar is what is used to sour milk for recipes. Do not serve dairy products with this meal as it is really not a good combination.