Archive for the ‘MEATBALLS’ Category
Sesame Soy Beef Meatballs
June 22, 2017 Lee
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Sesame Soy Beef Meatballs

These sound very good indeed. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams lean ground beef
  • 2 spring onions, sliced
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 250 C. Rub a large baking dish with olive oil or use a olive oil mister.
  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, spring onions, egg, bread crumbs, cilantro, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, season with salt and black pepper to taste, mix well to combine. Use your hands to mix and shape mixture into 12 balls.
  • Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Use with recipes calling for meatballs.

Notes

The beef will cost about 100 Baht/500 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 74 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Bread Crumbs.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,MEATBALLS
Turkish Meatballs & Vegetables (Izmir Kofte)
June 22, 2017 Lee
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Turkish Meatballs & Vegetables (Izmir Kofte)

This is a popular meatball and vegetable casserole originating from Turkey. Kofte means meatballs, and Izmir is the city from where this is commonly made. Sounds really good! This can be made on the stove top or baked in an oven.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Turkish
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs (Kofte)

  • 500 grams ground beef, or ground lamb, or a mix of both
  • 1 medium onion, grated
  • 2 slices stale bread
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • black pepper, to taste

For the Vegetables

  • 500 grams medium potatoes, sliced like thin apple quadrants
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, roughly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes, or can of whole tomatoes drained and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup water
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C.
  • Discard the crusts of the bread, soak in the water and squeeze dry. Then crumble them into a large bowl. Add all the meatball ingredients except the meat and mix with your hands well, this will soften the onions and enable the spices to blend in the mixture evenly. Add the ground meat and mix well again until the mixture resembles a soft dough.
  • With wet hands take a piece of meat mixture the size of a large walnut and roll into a large finger shape about 1 inch thick. Continue until all the mixture is used. The meatballs can now be covered and stored in the fridge until required.
  • In a baking dish, create layers with the vegetables and the meatballs. Add the chopped tomatoes, water, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and gently mix. Bake in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the sauce has thickened. To cook on the stove top, use a wide heavy pan and cook the casserole covered, at medium to low heat. You can start with medium heat until it starts bubbling and turn to heat to low. I would imagine 40 to 45 minutes should be enough.

Notes

The beef will cost about 100 Baht/500 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 74 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES,MEATBALLS
Feta Stuffed Meatball Mediterranean Bowl
June 19, 2017 Lee
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Feta Stuffed Meatball Mediterranean Bowl

This sounds really good. I'll have to do some research to source of ingredients, but that should be relatively easy. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 750 grams lean ground beef
  • 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons mint, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 85 grams Feta cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For the Spiced Chickpeas

  • 2 cans chickpeas, drained, rinsed, or 4 cups cooked
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 shallot, sliced
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • pinch red chili flakes
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For the Zucchini Noodles

  • 4 zucchini, spiralized
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice, juice from 1/2 of a lemon
  • pinch salt

Addional Items as desired

  • carrot, grated
  • grape tomatoes, halved
  • cucumber, sliced
  • Feta cheese, cubed

Instructions
 

For the Meatballs

  • Heat oven to 220 C. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
  • Combine beef, green onions, garlic, egg, mint, cumin, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Roll golf ball sized meatballs with your hands and pop a cube of feta inside. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

For the Chickpeas

  • Add olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add garlic and shallot and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, cumin and chili flakes. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in chickpeas and cook for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Turn off heat and stir in cilantro leaves.

For the Zucchini Noodles

  • Add zucchini to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Toss with hands. Let soften for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature.

To Assemble

  • Add zucchini noodles to the bottom of the bowl, top with meatballs, spiced chickpeas, feta, grated carrots, sliced grape tomatoes and sliced Persian cucumbers. Serve.

Notes

Figure the beef at about 150 Baht/750 grams. For Feta cheese. my estimate is about 40 Baht for that. For 4 servings, this is about $1.40 per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,MEATBALLS
Meatball Parmesan Calzones
June 18, 2017 Lee
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Meatball Parmesan Calzones

Sounds delicious! Several shortcuts to use as well to tailor this and make it your own recipe. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams pizza dough, OR make from a shortcut
  • 8 tablespoons tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 16 party size meatballs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 slices Mozzarella Cheese, cut in half
  • 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
  • fresh basil, as needed
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C.
  • Cut the pizza dough into 8 pieces on a floured surface.
  • Roll out or use your hands, one piece of dough until flat and somewhat round in shape, does not have to be perfect.
  • Spread 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce on the flattened dough. Wrap up two meatballs in a slice of Mozzarella and place them in the center of the dough. Sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.
  • Fold one side of dough up and over ingredients, and seal calzone by crimping the edges together. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining calzones.
  • Mix together the egg and water to make egg wash, brush each calzone with the egg wash and sprinkle with black pepper to your liking.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve.

Notes

Low cost but I will update when I make these.
Shortcuts: Pizza Dough, Tomato Sauce, Party Meatballs.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,MEATBALLS
Party Size Italian Meatballs
June 18, 2017 Lee
1 Comment

 

Party Size Italian Meatballs

Sounds good! This recipe makes lot of meatballs. This is a make ahead recipe that you can freeze to keep on hand, just thaw, add to a slow cooker with pasta sauce (or sauce of choice) and heat up. You can make the party size as appetizers or larger ones for dinners. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 30 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 2 1/2 kilos ground beef, not lean
  • 2 cups bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 eggs
  • handful fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

  • tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • I grind meat I purchase so I know the fat content and freshness of the meat. For this recipe I cut it nearly in half for a first test and used pork shoulder which is the perfect amount of fat.
  • In a very large bowl, mix all Meatball ingredients together by hand but don't over work it.
  • Form into ping pong size balls with your hands as evenly and smooth as possible, for dinner meatballs shape into larger ones. I made dinner size meatballs, this is 12 from just half the meat mixture. Place meatballs on rack of broiler pan or wire rack, evenly apart but not touching.
  • You may have as many as 60-70 party size meatballs if just making those.
  • Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F).
  • Bake for about 25 minutes or until well browned and fully cooked for the party size meatballs, large dinner size meatballs may take 30 minutes or more.
  • If freezing, allow meatballs to cool to room temp, bag in single layers then freeze.

For Serving as Appetizers

  • Place the meatballs, just cooked, thawed if frozen, amount is up to you, in your slow cooker, top that with the amount of pasta sauce to cover them and mixed in, and heat on Low setting until good and hot. Serve.

For Serving Dinner Meatballs

  • Use as needed for Spaghetti & Meatball type dishes. If using frozen, just thaw out first then use as needed.

Notes

Figure about 500 Baht/2 1/2 kilos of beef. Source it locally and you may get it for less. Figure about 150 Baht for the Parmesan cheese. For 30 servings of party size, this is about 63 cents per serving. Use pork and cost is much less.
Shortcuts: Bread Crumbs, Tomato Sauce, Italian Seasoning.
Variants: 1. Use pork instead of beef or a combination of the two. 2. Use a 4 cheese blend instead of the Parmesan.
Used in Recipe Listed on this Site:
 
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,INGREDIENTS,MEATBALLS
Stuffed Meatballs
June 12, 2017 Lee
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Stuffed Meatballs

These sound great, meatballs, with cheese, in pasta sauce, winning combination. On my to cook list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef
  • 500 grams Italian sausage, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • Mozzarella Cheese, as needed, cut into 3/4 in cubes
  • cooked pasta, for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the tomato sauce, cheese, and pasta.
  • Roll meat mixture into golf ball size meatballs, squish a cube of cheese into a meatball and form the edges over the cheese to make it into a meatball shape again.
  • Arrange all the meatballs in your slow cooker, pour in the tomato sauce. Cook on high setting for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Serve over pasta.

Notes

Figure about 100 Baht/500 grams of beef, and 60 Baht/500 grams of pork. For 6 servings, this is about 78 cents per serving.
Shortcuts: Italian Sausage, Bread Crumbs, Tomato Sauce.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,MEATBALLS
Meatball Parmigiana
June 5, 2017 Lee
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Meatball Parmigiana

Sounds good, meatballs with cheese and pasta sauce, and more cheese, perfect! On my to cook list for sure. I will update serving size and times after I make this, what is listed is just guesses for now. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams ground beef, or beef and pork
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and roughly chopped
  • handful fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded, not grated
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, OR make from a shortcut
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1-2 cups Mozzarella Cheese
  • 4-6 cups pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C.
  • Mix all of the meatball ingredients, except the Mozzarella cheese and pasta sauce, and form your meatballs, not too large. Pour 1-2 tablespoons oil on a foil lined baking sheet and bake the meatballs for 20 minutes.
  • Lower oven temp to 190 C.
  • Spoon some sauce into the bottom of a large baking dish. Place meatballs on top of the sauce. Cover with more sauce and dress the top up with plenty of mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and cheese is browning. For the last few minutes you can raise the oven temperature to help with browning.
  • Serve on pasta or rice.

Notes

Estimate about 150 Baht for ground beef, less if using beef and pork mix. I cannot price Parmesan cheese in a block yet, I will estimate 150 Baht, for the Mozzarella cheese, I would go with 400 grams at 280 Baht. For 6 servings, this is about $2.85 per serving.
Shortcuts: Bread Crumbs, Pasta Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,MEATBALLS
Thai Chicken Meatball Curry with Coconut Rice
May 27, 2017 Lee
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Thai Chicken Meatball Curry with Coconut Rice

Meatballs in curry, getting hungry now. This sounds like a great dish. You need curry paste for this, not curry powder.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 500 grams ground chicken
  • 1/2 teaspoon red curry paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • zest from 1 lime
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For the Curry

  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 1 tablespoon red curry paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 1/4 cups coconut milk
  • 2 cups chicken stock, fresh or from powder
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 Bird's Eye Chili, seeded and sliced
  • juice from 1 lime
  • snow peas, amount is up to you
  • baby corn, halved, amount is up to you

For the Coconut Rice

  • 1 recipe coconut rice, Shortcut in Recipe Notes

Instructions
 

  • Combine the Meatball Ingredients. With wet hands (this helps to keep the chicken from sticking to your hands) form golf-ball sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a tray lined with parchment paper and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Heat a large frying pan and fry the meatballs in a neutral oil, I would use rice bran or coconut oil, until they are browned all over. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the oil, and add the carrots and curry paste to the pan, cooking until the curry is slightly toasted. Add the garlic, fry for 10 seconds then add the coconut milk and chicken stock. Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar and Thai chili and whisk to combine.
  • Add the meatballs back into the pan and allow to simmer for 10 minutes before adding the snow peas and baby corn. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Serve the curry over coconut rice or in a lettuce cup. Garnish with sliced chilies, chopped cilantro, Thai basil, chopped peanuts and a lime wedge.

Notes

The chicken will cost about 75 Baht, if grinding yourself, go with a mixture of breasts and thighs. For 4 servings, this is about 55 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Coconut Rice.
Variants: If I was a betting man, I would say Beef or Pork Meatballs could be used as well. Now if you use curry powder instead of curry paste, you will change up the overall taste and make it more of an Indian dish.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: THAI,MEATBALLS
Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs
April 18, 2017 Lee
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Cheeseburger Pretzel Bombs

I was sold on this with the word cheeseburger, these sound really good. I am going to write this with ingredients I have available here, including real cheese, not processed cheese as the original recipe stated. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 14 bombs

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams pizza dough, OR make from a shortcut
  • Cheddar cheese, sliced very thin
  • 14 beef mini meatballs, can be found at Tesco or Makro
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • coarse sea salt, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 220 C.
  • Cut the dough into 14 evenly sized pieces.
  • Working one at a time, stretch out a piece of dough into a long strip, about 8 inches long. Place a thin slice of cheese at the top, followed by a meatball, and roll up the cheese and meatball in the dough. Rotate halfway through rolling to ensure you are completely encasing the cheese and meat into the dough. Pull tight and use any remaining slack to cover any possible gaps/holes. Press the dough into itself to seal and place on a parchment lined or flour covered baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, cheese, and meatballs.
  • In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the 5 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the baking soda and stir to dissolve. Return the pot to a boil, then, in batches of 3 to 5, add the rolled dough balls into the pot and allow to boil for 20-30 seconds, stirring gently. Remove and place back on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
  • Brush each boiled ball with beaten egg and then sprinkle each with coarse sea salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the outsides have browned. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes, serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Shortcut: Pizza Dough - follow the steps for the dough.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,MEATBALLS
Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
February 17, 2017 Lee
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Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

Sounds extremely good! Minimal ingredients, and two shortcuts for cost savings. Baked and not fried. I will state the number of meatballs I can make from this when I make this. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams sausage, OR make from a shortcut
  • 250 grams Cream cheese, softened, this 1 standard block
  • 1 1/4 cups Bisquick Mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 110 grams Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C.
  • Mix all ingredients until well combined, roll into 1 inch balls. bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve as an appetizer or in main dish in a pasta sauce over spaghetti.

Notes

Minced pork will cost about 50 Baht/500 grams if making the sausage yourself. The Cream cheese will run about 150 Baht/250 grams, and the Cheddar will run about 90 Baht for half a 250 gram block. For all the meatballs, this is about $8.53, I will break this down to per meatball when I make these. I will state high cost for now.
Shortcuts: Sausage, Bisquick Mix.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,MEATBALLS