Pork Meatballs And Cucumber Salad Recipes

MEATBALL SALAD

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Combine the Parmesan, ricotta, breadcrumbs, milk and egg in a medium bowl and stir well to combine and allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the liquid. Add the pork, sausage and salt and use your hands to mix gently to combine.
• Heat a medium straight sided skillet over medium heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet. Roll heaping tablespoons of the meat mixture into balls and place in the hot oil. Add as many as the skillet will allow without overcrowding, working in two batches if needed. Brown the balls on all sides, rotating as needed, about 8 minutes. Remove the balls to a plate and pour off the oil from the skillet. Add the marinara and 1/4 cup water to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Return the balls to the sauce and cover the skillet. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• For the salad: Meanwhile, toss together the arugula, Parmesan shavings, olive oil and lemon juice in a medium bowl.
• Spoon 5 or 6 meatballs into a bowl, then top with some of the salad and serve. Repeat to make 4 more servings.

PORK MEATBALLS AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°F. Place raisins in a small bowl and pour in hot water to cover; let sit until ready to use.
• Place cucumbers in a colander or sieve set in or over a large bowl; sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt and toss to combine. Let sit while you make the meatballs. (It will seem like a lot of cucumbers at first, but they will shrink down as they drain.)
• Meanwhile, drizzle 2 Tbsp. oil over a large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange pine nuts in an even layer on another rimmed baking sheet (use a quarter-sheet if you have one!).
• Finely chop ¼ cup olives. Transfer to a large bowl and add egg, garlic, panko, parsley, 1½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes; season with black pepper. Drain raisins and add half to bowl; mix well to combine. Add pork and gently mix with your hands to incorporate. Working one at a time, scoop out heaping tablespoonfuls of pork mixture and form into balls (think about the size of a golf ball; you should get about 20). Arrange on oiled baking sheet, spacing 1" apart. Turn to coat.
• Bake meatballs, rotating baking sheet front to back halfway through, until browned on bottom and cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Toast pine nuts on bottom rack until golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup olives. Gather cucumbers into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out any excess liquid into bowl (don't worry if they get a little smashed); discard liquid. Wipe out bowl and combine cucumbers, olives, pine nuts, onion, herbs, and remaining raisins in bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, season with salt and black pepper, and toss again to coat.
• Swoosh a generous scoop of yogurt over each plate, then top with salad and meatballs. Season with more black pepper and red pepper flakes if desired.

PORK MEATBALLS WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix ground pork, apricots, onion, ginger, garlic, and salt together in a large bowl until well combined. Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to form into meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are cooked through, about 15 to 17 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, whisk apricot preserves, soy sauce, Dijon, brown sugar, sesame oil, Sriracha, and Worcestershire sauce together in a saucepan over medium-low heat until well combined. Cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir cornstarch into water until dissolved, then add it to the saucepan. Cook, whisking constantly, until glaze thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add meatballs to the glaze. Toss to combine and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Serve warm, garnished with cilantro.

LAMB MEATBALLS WITH CUCUMBERS AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine onion, raisins, and vinegar and let soak, tossing every now and then so everything gets vinegary. Put coriander and cumin seeds in a skillet and cook over medium heat, shaking skillet around a lot quite vigorously to move them around. When they start to smell fragrant and toasty, after a minute or two, transfer to a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, or cutting board. Crush them up just a bit and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add Aleppo pepper, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and ground lamb to bowl with spices. Chop leaves from parsley and half of mint and dill; add to bowl. Add breadcrumbs and egg and grate in 1 clove garlic; use your hands to mix and combine. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Divide mixture into 12 balls and put on sheet.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes for medium (about 145°F on an instant-read thermometer). Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine cucumbers, pickled-onion mixture, and 1 handful each parsley and mint leaves. Season with salt and black pepper and drizzle with a little oil.
• Put labneh in another bowl; grate in remaining 1 clove garlic and zest of lemon. Season with Aleppo pepper and salt. Swoop mixture onto your serving plate or platter with the back of a spoon. Top with salad and meatballs. Cut zested lemon into wedges and serve alongside.

THE BEST SWEET AND SOUR PORK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the sausage in a large bowl and mix in the chestnuts, green onion, 1/2 cup of soy sauce, eggs, garlic powder, and breadcrumbs. Roll the mixture into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a broiler pan. Bake in the oven for 1 hour. When done, place the meatballs in a slow cooker.
• While meatballs are cooking, prepare the sweet and sour sauce by stirring together the sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Pour in vinegar, pineapple juice, ketchup, and soy sauce to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until thickened. Pour sauce over meatballs, and keep warm in the slow cooker.

PORK MEATBALLS WITH BULGUR SALAD, FETA & MINT

Steps:

• Mix the grated carrot and onion with the pork, half of the oregano and plenty of black pepper. Shape into 16 large meatballs. Heat the oil in a large deep non-stick frying pan and fry the meatballs for about 5-8 mins, turning occasionally until firm and starting to colour. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Tip the chopped onion into the pan and fry over a medium heat until starting to soften, about 5 mins. Stir in the garlic, then add the tomatoes along with the tomato purée, a can of water, the bouillon powder and remaining oregano. Cook over a low heat, covered, for 15 mins, then add the meatballs. Cover and simmer for a further 10 mins
• Meanwhile, boil the bulgur for 15-20 mins until tender, then drain. Tip into a bowl and stir in the lemon zest and 2-3 tbsp juice, the red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and chopped mint. Pile half onto two plates and top with half the meatballs and sauce. Scatter over the mint leaves and half the feta. Chill the rest for another night. Will keep chilled for up to three days. Reheat the meatballs over a low heat until piping hot, then serve with the salad. If frozen, leave to defrost fully and reheat gently until piping hot.

ASIAN STEAMED PORK MEATBALLS, SESAME NOODLES & SALAD

Steps:

• Meatballs -- Combine the pork, mushrooms, scallions, garlic, rice cooking wine, hoisin sauce, salt & pepper. Mix everything together and then form meatballs. I make mine about golf ball size. TIP: After making them, I like to put them on a sheet on parchment and then put in the freezer for just 10 minutes as I start the noodles. This just helps when I go to saute them. It is optional, but does help.
• Noodles -- As the meatballs cool off, make the oriental noodles. Now if your grocer doesn't have oriental noodles in the Asian or Oriental Section, use spaghetti. Cook accordingly to the directions. Drain and add to a serving bowl.
• Mix the soy sauce, scallions, garlic, red pepper flakes, sesame oil and vegetable and pour over the noodles and toss. Cover and refrigerate. Sometimes before serving, I like to garnish with just a little sesame oil and peanuts if you want, but sometimes I don't. I like the simple flavors. but go easy, the sesame oil is very strong.
• Dipping Sauce -- Meatballs are almost ready, but make a quick 1 minute dipping sauce for them. Mix the soy, hoisin and lime. That is it. Just set it in a bowl to the side.
• Now -- Dipping sauce is done -- sesame noodles are done and chilling, meatballs are chilled and ready to cook. As they cook we will put a 5 minute salad together and dinner is served.
• Meatballs -- In non stick pan heat up the oil to medium high and add the meatballs. Just a few seconds on each side to get a little golden, but remember, we aren't trying to cook them, just a light sear is all. Not too long, maybe 2 minutes total is all you need. Then add the chicken broth and cover and let them simmer and steam on medium low to low. Should take about 10 minutes. Don't over crowd the pan by stacking the meatballs, but a big enough pan should work just fine. DON'T peak either.
• Salad -- Now the easy part. As the meatballs steam. Do a quick salad on the side. Slice up some Napa cabbage and add to a serving bowl, add a can of sliced water chestnuts, a can of mandarine oranges and thin slice a small red onion, and about 1/2 of a seedless cucumber, skin on is fine. Just toss and then serve with a quality sesame dressing. I don't like many bottled dressing but there are a few out there that are really pretty good. Make it easy on yourself. You can always add mushrooms, red peppers, or any other vegetables you like but I like it really simple for this salad.
• Now 3 courses and just 30-40 minutes.