Meatballs - How do you cook them?

[*Ang*]

Have made up my first ever batch of meatballs for a DD's birthday tomorrow and went to cook them as per the directions on the recipe (microwave) and they turned out crap. So how do you all cook your meatballs?

Also what kind of dipping sauce do you make up? Any ideas appreciated.

[feeb]

I either pan fry or oven bake them.

Sweet chilli sauce or a salsa

[ElleJay]

We chuck ours in a saucepan and cover them in tomato soup once they've browned

[*Ang*]

What kind of sweet and sour sauce?

[Artechim]

You can use Kan-tong stir through jar or similar for dipping or if you want I can post my recipe.

[Artechim]

I cook mine in the oven with baking paper so they don't stick. 180 degrees for 10 minutes, turn and cook another 5 minutes. Cooking time depends on ball size.

I make sweet and sour meatballs as one of our standard dinners, so they would go with a s+s dipping sauce.

Good luck

[appletree]

Mmmm, meatballs! Yum!!! I bake or pan fry as well. I usually mix the mince with an egg, a pack of Asian 2 min noodles crushed and all the flavoring packs added (including the chilli) some BBQ sauce, some ketchap manis and then make them into balls about the size of a 20 cent piece. They don't usually need sauce as they are very moist and delicious!

Goodluck with getting some made!

[PumpkinZulu]

I love my meatballs. Haven't ever tasted better ones

I dice up some onion and caramelise them with a little olive oil. Then add them to my mince with salt, pepper, a splash of Wostershire sauce, a dash of tomato sauce and some dried herbs, usually sage. Cut some decent sized cubes of cheese, mild meatball around cheese, pop in fridge for 30 minutes. The cheese keeps them moist and delicious. Fry in pan with a little olive oil and a smidge of butter until caramelised. Yum!

[Tegam]

I bake but I wanna try PZ now!

[PumpkinZulu]

Not the most arse-friendly way, but they're great. The main part is not adding egg or breadcrumbs to your meat, just a bit of flavouring and let the meaty goodness do it's thing. Same as burgers, rissoles etc.

Oh and the best part is cutting into them and the cheese oozes out

[Tegam]

I use egg and bread crumbs. I really am **** at making them ROFL No wonder the kids don't eat them.

[Fleur]

Going to post the BEST meatball sauce recipe ever - it's not the meatballs, make them however you like, but the sauce.

Meatballs -
500g mince
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 onion, diced
parsley, salt & pepper, a teaspoon of curry powder

Mix, roll, bake at 180 for 30 minutes. Stir / roll them, pour sauce over & back in the oven for another 15 - 20 minutes.

Sauce -
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons of fruit chutney
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour over meatballs as above.

When cooked, use sauce as a dipping sauce.

* amounts are approximate - I have made this so many times I can't remember what the original amounts are but it's something like this (this is how we like it). You could tweak them to taste.

[Olive]

Try the meatballs from Swedish meatballs, delish!

[*Ang*]

Artechim - would you mind posting your dipping sauce?

Thanks guys for all the ideas, as they are a "finger food" I really need something not too messy!

[Artechim]

1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup water
3 T white vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 T corn flour
1 t ginger
1/2 t salt

Combine over medium heat, stir. Cook until thickened - should change from cloudy to clear when the corn flour does it thing.

[BlackRose]

MmmmMeatballs. I do what PZ does and put mozzerella cheese in the middle, but I bake mine in the oven.

Also, if you're close to an IKEA store they sell frozen meatballs which are yummy and easy to make if you don't have alot of time

[Caz1971]

I make the swedish ones with the creamy sauce. So easy.!

Grab mince beef, add salt, some minced garlic, parsley. Roll into little balls.
Fry balls in oil.
Take meatballs out of fry pan. with remaining oil, fry some flour, fry one minute. Add water/soya sauce. Then on the end thickened cream. Voila. its soooo tasty. I love them with mash potatoes and cranberry sauce. (i think at Ikea they use lygon berries.)
Recipe from an auntie who lives in sweden

[Miss.B]

This is how I make my meatballs and sauce :

Meatballs

300 grams pork or chicken mince
200 grams lean beef mince
a handful of grated parmasan cheese
1 tablespoon of basil (fresh or from a tube)
1 tablespoon of parsley (as above)
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of grated garlic
1/2 finely chopped onion
a little bit of seasoning to taste (I use vegeta)
and enough breadcrumbs to make into soft balls

I cook those for 15 minutes on each side on 180 in the oven.

For the sauce I use:

1/2 finely chopped onion & 1 teaspoon of garlic in a bit of oil in the pan
a jar of dolmio or similar
a good squirt of ketchup
a little squirt of sweet chilli sauce
1 small can of chopped tomatoes (or chopped fresh tomatoes if you have time)
a sprinkle of organo
a sprinkle of basil
a sprinkle of pepper and seasoning to taste.