Email This
Few meals are more satisfying than the ones that are both easy to make and taste great. Meatballs fall under this banner -- basic meatball recipes are a snap to follow and are great for teaching kids who are beginning to learn cooking fundamentals. Making meatballs is a hands-on experience that chefs of all ages can enjoy, but it's not always child's play. Finding an easy meatball recipe is, well, easy, but meatballs can be used for so much more than as an accompaniment to spaghetti. This article will teach you the basics of meatball making and outline a number of left-of-center meatball recipes that put new twists on this old favorite.
Basic meatball recipes require only four ingredients -- ground beef, eggs, water and bread crumbs. A perfect example of an easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe can be found here. If you'd like to add a little extra flavor to this dish, you could splash in a dash of Worcestershire sauce, throw in a little milk, chop up a small onion and sprinkle in a pinch of salt to taste. As with all meatball recipes, just combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together with your fingers (it's just like being in preschool again!). Make each meatball 1''-1.5'' in diameter -- from here you can either bake them in the oven (20-25 minutes at 400 degrees), pan fry them on medium heat or microwave them on high heat (cook each side for 3-4 minutes).
Now that you've conquered the world of easy meatballs, why don't we shake things up a bit? Here are a few novel ideas that should get your mind (and taste buds!) going:
Swedish Meatballs: This classic dish's main ingredients include ground beef, ground lamb, powdered mustard, nutmeg, and parsley. Instructions to make Swedish Meatball sauce are also provided. They're perfect for your next smorgasbord!
Italian Meatballs: Another classic, and a slight variation on the typical meatball recipe. These balls feature ground beef, ground pork, oregano, red pepper and Parmesan cheese. Bellissima!
Turkey Meatballs in Marinara Sauce: This meatball recipe also uses Parmesan cheese, as well as shallots, garlic, spices, and Dijon mustard (which gives the dish a great kick). This recipe is proof that meatballs can be made out of any kind of meat, not just beef -- turkey is a light, flavorful alternative that works wonderfully in this context.
Caribbean Meatballs: Ground beef, pineapple and bell pepper are the primary ingredients in this Caribbean-inspired meatball recipe, but the real star of the show is the orange dipping sauce! The sweetness of the pineapple mixed with the spiciness of the bell pepper gives these meatballs a very interesting, unique flavor.
Japanese Meatballs: The recipe for these meatballs also teaches you how to make a delicious soy dipping sauce. Ground chicken, sesame oil, ginger and scallion are prominently featured in these, which work great as hors d'oeuvres or party snacks.
Email This
Few meals are more satisfying than the ones that are both easy to make and taste great. Meatballs fall under this banner -- basic meatball recipes are a snap to follow and are great for teaching kids who are beginning to learn cooking fundamentals. Making meatballs is a hands-on experience that chefs of all ages can enjoy, but it's not always child's play. Finding an easy meatball recipe is, well, easy, but meatballs can be used for so much more than as an accompaniment to spaghetti. This article will teach you the basics of meatball making and outline a number of left-of-center meatball recipes that put new twists on this old favorite.Basic meatball recipes require only four ingredients -- ground beef, eggs, water and bread crumbs. A perfect example of an easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe can be found here. If you'd like to add a little extra flavor to this dish, you could splash in a dash of Worcestershire sauce, throw in a little milk, chop up a small onion and sprinkle in a pinch of salt to taste. As with all meatball recipes, just combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together with your fingers (it's just like being in preschool again!). Make each meatball 1''-1.5'' in diameter -- from here you can either bake them in the oven (20-25 minutes at 400 degrees), pan fry them on medium heat or microwave them on high heat (cook each side for 3-4 minutes).
Now that you've conquered the world of easy meatballs, why don't we shake things up a bit? Here are a few novel ideas that should get your mind (and taste buds!) going:
Swedish Meatballs: This classic dish's main ingredients include ground beef, ground lamb, powdered mustard, nutmeg, and parsley. Instructions to make Swedish Meatball sauce are also provided. They're perfect for your next smorgasbord!
Italian Meatballs: Another classic, and a slight variation on the typical meatball recipe. These balls feature ground beef, ground pork, oregano, red pepper and Parmesan cheese. Bellissima!
Turkey Meatballs in Marinara Sauce: This meatball recipe also uses Parmesan cheese, as well as shallots, garlic, spices, and Dijon mustard (which gives the dish a great kick). This recipe is proof that meatballs can be made out of any kind of meat, not just beef -- turkey is a light, flavorful alternative that works wonderfully in this context.
Caribbean Meatballs: Ground beef, pineapple and bell pepper are the primary ingredients in this Caribbean-inspired meatball recipe, but the real star of the show is the orange dipping sauce! The sweetness of the pineapple mixed with the spiciness of the bell pepper gives these meatballs a very interesting, unique flavor.
Japanese Meatballs: The recipe for these meatballs also teaches you how to make a delicious soy dipping sauce. Ground chicken, sesame oil, ginger and scallion are prominently featured in these, which work great as hors d'oeuvres or party snacks.