Easiest go to meal that the whole family will love? Meatballs! I’m partial to asian style meatballs but my family loves basic beef meatballs with tomato sauce over pasta or zoodles! I’ve tried many recipes and techniques over the years and here are a few facts I’ve learned:
1. Seasoning does matter, even if you are using sauce, the meatball needs to stand on it’s own. 1 tsp of salt and other herbs per lbs of meat is a good rule of thumb.
2. Eggs are not added for moisture, they are there to bind the meat to the breadcrumbs, cheese and seasoning. My key for perfectly moist meatballs? Adding a little warm water at the end and using your hands not a fork to mix everything together!
3. Make sure your hands are wet or oiled when rolling the balls, this keeps them from sticking to you and makes it easier to get uniform size.
4. You can bake the meatballs in the oven, but I find searing them in a pan first even with a light coating of olive oil sears the outside and makes them better. I cook mine in the pan and then add sauce and let them simmer.
What am I missing? Please send me a note or comment if you have any other tricks!
- 1 lbs grass-fed ground meat
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup good grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup good bread crumbs fresh or Trader Joes* see note
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water
- 1/4 olive oil
- Add the garlic, egg, cheese salt and pepper to the meat.
- Add bread crumbs and slowly add the warm water in as you mix with hands. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape.
- Roll the meat into balls while hands are wet. Make about 12 with 1 lbs of meat. Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the meatballs turning to brown all sides. Turn heat down and cover until meatballs are cooked through.
- You can add the sauce right to the pan or first remove meatballs to a lined plate to drain and wipe out the pan. Add back in meatballs and sauce.
- Serve with fresh parsley and extra parm cheese as a meal or over whole grain pasta or zoodles!
* most bread crumbs contain crap! Read the label you would be surprised. Fresh are best but Trader Joes carries two types that only have a few ingredients. You can also use gluten free breadcrumbs or for grain-free substitute the bread with almond flour. I've tried it and don't notice a difference!
