Browsing Tag

MEATBALLS

MEATBALLS NEAPOLITAN STYLE – POLPETTE ALLA NAPOLETANA

NEOPOLITAN MEATBALLS

In Italy, the likelihood of finding spaghetti and meatballs on a restaurant menu is slim and none.  The American palate believes that it’s inherently Italian fare, since every Italian locale in the US presents a heaping dose of spaghetti in tomato sauce co-piloted with the proverbial balls on top. Only in the Southern Italian city of Naples, their meatballs, polpette al sugo, are paired with a rich tomato sauce, but never on top of pasta. And Italians are chronically in love…

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CRISPY SHRIMP BALLS

CRISPY SHRIMP BALLS

These Asian shrimp-inspired meatballs are not only outstanding but addicting.  I choose to serve them with a healthy dollop of aioli on top of each ball.  If you live anywhere where mosquitoes are raging outside because of the heat and humidity, even more reason to stay indoors and knock these out tonight, as they are pretty light in preparation and rather filling for a weekday meal substituting for the customary meatball.   Try not to omit the bonito flakes –…

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STICKY ASIAN MEATBALLS WITH HOISIN SAUCE – TAKE 2

ASIAN STICKY BALLS 2

There is already a post on Asian Sticky Balls which are pretty swanky.  However, I made these for a party and my guests became raving lunatics over the balls and specially the homemade Hoisin sauce, so I think I better share it with ya’ll.   MEATBALLS ½ LB each ground pork and ground sirloin 1 TBSP garlic/ginger paste 2 eggs – beaten 2 TBSP toasted sesame oil ½ cup of minced scallions ½ cup of Panko breadcrumbs Toasted sesame seeds…

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HAWKSMORE’S MEATBALLS

HAWSMORE MEATBALLS

There’s an established group of phenomenal steak restaurants in London much like Peter Luger and Charley Palmer’s here in the States. They are called Hawksmore.  That’s where I first had this outstanding meatball stew dish. It helped immensely that I visited the locale with one of my restauranteur friends and he was familiar with the recipe, hence I was bale to grovel for the recipe. The addition of Stilton, a pungent, earthy English cheese, is crucial to encapsulate the flavors…

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ASIAN SHRIMP BALLS

ASIAN SHRIMP BALLS

Shrimp balls are ever popular in Asian countries.  In Beijing, there are hundreds of street vendors that provide the most amazing delicacies, which at times are one hundred times better than eating in a fancy restaurant.  These are served with a sticky, red spicy sauce, but the Nuoc Nam dipping sauce below, even though it is Vietnamese, lends itself even better as it provides the right balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy.  Umami with attitude. 1 LB of raw…

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SPANISH MEATBALLS IN SAFFRON SAUCE

ALBONDIGAS EN SALSA DE AZAFRÁN Every country boasts of an individualistic rendition for these crowd pleasing round morsels and in Spain meatballs are criminally outstanding, almost falling under a denomination of their own accord.  If you’re a meatball lover and your only experience has only been the Italian type over spaghetti, then you’ve not seen the forest for the trees.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Italian fare.  It’s prodigious with every regional specialty making it unforgettable and their meatballs…

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INDIAN KOFTAS IN CREAMY CASHEW SAUCE

INDIAN MEATBALLS IN CASHEW SAUCE

Kofta is the term for meatballs in India and Middle Eastern countries.  The variations are endless, as they are served in curry sauces, coconut milk, tahini, or alone with some raita.  The meat used is typically lamb and if at all possible have it ground fresh by your butcher.  Even if you are not a lamb lover, you’ll be flummoxed by the unique flavor it imparts in this dish.  The sauce is finished with ground cashews, becoming the thickening agent…

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ASIAN STICKY BALLS

ASIAN STICKY BALLS

Living in South East Asia one encounters all kinds of savory balls.  Cuttlefish (squid), prawns, pork, fish, each more flavorful than the next.  Some are served fried with a light glaze, some come covered in sauces or showcased as the main ingredient in soups and they are far from dry or insipid. This version is an adaptation from one of the many forays into Singapore hawker centers.  They are baked instead of fried and the results are just stellar!  Don’t…

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BALLS 101

MEATBALLS

The iconoclastic meatball, loved, preferred and devoured by all. No matter which part of the world or which culture you hail from, chances are that you have eaten one. Seriously. Who doesn’t love a meatball? Every cuisine showcases a different individualistic take to give these pervasive round jewels their claim to fame, with flavor profiles indigenous only to that part of the globe. And if you are not partial to meat, there are countless recipes for veggie balls, so you are…

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Pantry Rat