Margaret's recipe actually calls for simmering the meatballs in a pan of stock, but I like the added flavour and the ease of just whacking them into the oven to bake. I have also added a few extra flavourings to give it a bit more of a modern twist.
ingredients:
for the meatballs:
750g. of beef mince (or you can ring in the changes by using a mixture of veal, pork and beef)
3 slices of stale, white bread soaked for 10 minutes in cold water, then squeezed out with your hands
1 onion finely chopped
5 anchovy fillets, mashed with a fork
2 eggs
2 tbs parsley, chopped finely
1/4 cup Cornflake crumbs
1/4 tsp lightly dried chilli flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
a few dashes of ground nutmeg
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp salt
about ten grinds of black pepper
for the sauce:
30g. butter
1/3 cup diced onion
1+3/4 tbs flour
800mls stock - take your pick - I used chicken but use whatever takes your fancy
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs capers, rinsed and shaken dry
2-3 tbs sour cream
Method:
Grab a large bowl- in goes the minced meat and all the other ingredients for the meatballs
Give this a really, really good mix with your hands (I use gloves)
Shape into golf-ball sized globes (you should get about 24 meatballs)
Place on a baking tray lined with paper (you will need 2 trays)
Bake for 20 mins. at 180C
Sauce:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan
Add the onion and fry till golden but not brown
Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture, and give it a good stir
Keep stirring while the roux thickens - make sure it doesn't burn
Cook out the flour for a few minutes
Pour in the stock and stir, and keep stirring for a few minutes more till it has thickened
Add the lemon juice and capers
Gently drop the meatballs into the lemony sauce and allow to simmer away for 15 mins., giving it an occasional stir
Stir in the sour cream and serve with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes
gathering ingredients |
ready to mix up and make into balls |
lots of squelchy squishing |
here come the balls:) |
rolling rolling rolling, keep those balls a-rolling |
rolled and ready to bake |
baked! |
Yes they are a bit leaky 'cos I ran out of lean mince and had to use some of the mince I normally feed to the kookaburras! And why the King and Queen, you may ask? The Mountain King of course!
saucy ingredients |
adding flour to the butter and onion |
stirring in the flour |
stock added and simmering away |
dropping the meatballs into the sauce (excuse fuzzy night-time shot) |
spooning in the sour cream to finish off the dish |
serve with sauerkraut and mash for a very hearty winter's meal |
On Top of Spaghetti
On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.
Don't let this happen to you:)
(Lyrics by Tom Glazer).
Rolling the meatballs is the best part.
ReplyDeleteyes it gives a certain sensual satisfaction:)
DeleteMan I adore meatballs and these look so good! Is it a coincidence that it is raining outside? I think not! :P perfect rainy weather food!
ReplyDeleteexcellent for stoking up the fires in the belly on a winter's night lorraine :)
DeleteThat's a word I could never pronounce. Your meatballs look amazing and it's so interesting that they have anchovies in them. I love Margaret Fulton and when I was first married, I was given one of her cookbooks. It helped me with putting basic meals on the table, with discovering new flavours and cuisines, and with dealing with dinner parties xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlie. She is such a treasure and full of surprises! So interesting to read her autobiography :)
DeleteI knew why the king and queen where there - Sherry - love your sense of humour. And these do delicious and so many Australians have Margaret Fulton to thank for teaching them to cook. When I worked in publishing in Sydney I met her a number of times and she is an interesting person.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. She was ahead of her time!
DeleteSherry, I laughed at the inclusion of cornflake crumbs in the ingredient list. You wouldn't see that these days. Great choice of recipe.
ReplyDeletei have to admit the cornflake crumbs was my idea:) I always put them in my meatballs. they soak up extra liquid and give a nice flavour.
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