With the entertaining season upon us, I want to share with you one of our favorite recipes perfect for a buffet or cocktail party or serve it with rice for a main course as this recipe makes an abundant amount of sauce. By the way, ground chuck is available at your local butcher and is much meatier in flavor than typical ground beef. All the best of the holiday season to you...
Honey Garlic Meatballs
"Combining two different types of meat gives the meatballs more complex flavour and seasoned with Chinese 5 Spice powder they are perfect with this sauce. Enjoy!"
1 pound (454g) ground chuck
1 pound (454g) lean ground pork
2 large eggs
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced onion
2 tbsp finely crushed or minced garlic
1 tbsp Chinese 5 Spice powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Sauce
1 cup + 2 tbsp beef broth
3/4 cup brown sugar (not golden sugar)
1/2 cup liquid honey
6 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp cornstarch
1.5 tbsp finely crushed garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a baking sheet with baking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chuck, pork, eggs, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, five spice, 2 tsp salt & the pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined into a homogenous mixture. Roll bits of the mixture into small meatballs approximately 3/4 (three quarter) inch in size and place them on the prepared baking sheet. You should have approximately 45 to 50 meatballs. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until their internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
3. While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce by placing the beef broth, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic and half tsp salt in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. When it just starts to boil stir constantly until it has reached a full rolling boil. It must reach a full boil to activate the cornstarch thickener fully. Remove from the heat and set aside.
4. Place the cooked meatballs on paper towel temporarily to remove some of the fat. Transfer the meatballs to a serving dish, cover with the sauce and serve immediately with or without cooked rice.
Makes 45 to 50, 3/4 inch meatballs
Send your food/cooking questions to [email protected] or P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6R4
Chef Dez is a Food Columnist, Culinary Instructor & Cooking Show Performer. Visit him at www.chefdez.com
The next "Chef Dez on Cooking" column will appear approximately January 4/13.
