More Than Spaghetti: 3 Great Ways to Serve Meatballs

A meatball is a round composition of ground meats. It's a versatile food you can pair with almost anything and cook in any way. You can serve it with pasta, in curry, grilled on sticks, steamed, deep-fried, roasted, barbecued - name it, and it can be done.

A Little History

This staple bite has a mysterious background; no one really knows where and how it originated. But, the most common theory suggests that it came from Persia. The country has a dish called kofta, which means "pounded meat."

Experts say that some of the earliest accounts are in regions along trade routes and that everyone seemed to have their own versions. China is abundant with pork, so they made plenty with that ingredient. Meanwhile, Romans enjoyed their rabbit, pheasant, and peacock versions the most; they date way back to 1st century AD, as evidenced by the cookbook of Apicius.

Bavarian Meatball

Lucky for you, you won't have to hunt for your meat. Thanks to the Internet, all you have to do is search online for where to buy frozen mini meatballs to cook delicious dishes. But, if you want to try your hand, you can make your own.

One variant is the Bavarian meatball. This recipe takes a twist from making the food traditionally by adding ginger nut biscuits. To do it, you'll need:

Ingredients

·        1 finely diced onion

·        5 oz. minced beef

·        5 oz. minced pork

·        5 crushed ginger nut biscuits

·        2 tbsp. chopped chives

·        1 clove finely diced garlic

·        1/2 tsp. mixed spice

·        1 tsp. salt

·        1 heaped tsp. ground black pepper

·        1/2 tsp. ground white pepper

·        1 small beaten egg

·        2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Directions

1.       Over low heat, stir-fry the onions until translucent and softened. Continue for about 8-10 minutes; then, allow them to cool.

2.       Place the minced pork and beef, 1 tbsp. of chives, crushed ginger nuts, the softened onion, spice, garlic, salt and pepper, and beaten eggs in a mixing bowl and combine thoroughly.

3.       With damp hands, roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls and put them on a tray or plate. Then, put them in the fridge and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Once settled, bring the meatballs out and set aside.

4.       Fry the meatballs over moderate heat until they're golden brown. Remember to turn each piece regularly to get an even coloring; then, place them in a clean bowl.

Once all are cooked, pair them with anything that you like. Maybe place them on a bed of mashed potatoes, side served with gravy, or you can just eat them as is.

Wine Recommendations

While you're aiming to buy frozen meatballs, don't forget to put wine on the grocery list, as well. Two of your best choices would be white and red. If you prefer the latter, go for juicy berry fruit flavors to cut through the slight spiciness of the meat. But, if you're one for the former, choose denser but vibrant variants to embrace the gentle sweetness and other flavors of the dish.