FFf Eclectic Red Barn: Sensational Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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Monday, August 19, 2013

Sensational Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sensational, that is what family and friends say when I serve these meatballs. I often serve them when I have company or parties, although I did make them last week just for us. 

The first year I made them for our Christmas party, they were gone almost immediately. The recipe makes around 80 meatballs so I thought it would be enough with all of the other food. Last year I doubled the recipe and still they were asking for more. I guess I will triple the recipe this year. lol!

Eclectic Red Barn: Sensational Sweet and Sour Meatballs

The great thing about this recipe is that you can make them in advance and then just cook them in the sauce the day of your party. They also freeze well in the sauce if you have leftovers. Yeah, right! I made them this weekend so that my husband would have some food while I am in LA. 

The recipe may  look complicated, but it is not. 
First, mix the ingredients for the meatballs.
Eclectic Red Barn: Sweet and Sour Meatball Mixed
  Second, place the formed meatballs on cookie trays. 
Eclectic Red Barn: Sweet and Sour Meatballs on Cookie Sheet
Third, bake meatballs at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Eclectic Red Barn: Sweet and Sour Meatballs Cooked
At this point, you can freeze the meatballs or use them in your favorite traditional spaghetti sauce. 

Fourth, make sauce and then add meatballs. 
Eclectic Red Barn: Sweet and Sour Meatballs Cooking in Sauce
I think I should have used a bigger pot! A cast iron pot is great for this recipe. I have not tried this in a crock pot,  although I have served it in one after they were cooked. I just put it on low.
Eclectic Red Barn: Sweet and Sour Meatballs in Bowl
I have served these meatballs on pasta , over rice (my husband's favorite)and as appetizers. Add a nice salad and you have an awesome dinner. Even my grand children love these. 

Finally, here is the recipe:                                  Print

Sensational Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients for meatballs:
4 slices white sandwich bread torn into pieces ( I use whole wheat)
½ cup whole milk (I use skim)
2 large egg yolks
½ pound ground pork
½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons pepper
2 ½ pounds ground beef

Directions for making meatballs:
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Using a fork, mash bread, milk and egg yolks in large bowl until smooth. Add pork, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper and mix until incorporated. Add beef and knead gently until combined.

Shape meatballs into 1 ¼ inch meatballs. You should have around 80 meatballs. Place meatballs on 2 rimmed baking sheets.  Bake until cooked through and browned, 12-15 minutes, switch tray half way through. Allow to cool. You can freeze them at this point.


Ingredients for Sauce:
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 onion, minced
1 (28 oz) can tomato sauce
2 ½ cup apricot preserves
¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions for making sauce:
Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium high heat. Cook onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Whisk in tomato sauce, preserves, sugar, Worcestershire, mustard and pepper flakes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium - low and simmer until sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Add meatballs. Heat through.

Bon Appetit!

Linking to these parties: 
Inspire Me MondayMarvelous Mondays Link Party at This Gal CookscraftandrepeatGive Me the Goods MondayOur DelightfulHomeTotally Tasty TuesdaysHomemade Ginger The DIY DreamerOne Project at a Time Link party - ABFOLFluster BusterYour Whims Wednesday

8 comments :

  1. These look delicious! I can't wait to make them!

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  2. Pinning - my kids love meatballs (who doesn't!), but I personally would love a change! LOL! Thank you for the recipe! Julia

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  3. My 12 y/o, after years of saying she doesn't like meatballs, is now begging me to make them since actually trying them at a friends house! I'll have to give it a shot...I've only made them once (from scratch!)

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  4. these sure do sound good. I've heard of them before and always wanted to try them so I'll have to pin this so I don't forget it

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  5. Yum ~ these look delicious! Makes me want them to eat now :) Again, thanks so much for being our Guest Host this week at the Super Sunday Sync. Hope your week is off to a good start!

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  6. Hi Bev ... my, those sound and look so good. I should get my daughter to try them when she has one of her big ranch crowds. Just the two of us would be just too much, but maybe could freeze them and make small servings.
    Thanks for stopping by Timeless Treasures with a nice comment. Hope you will visit often.
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Trreasures

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  7. Hi Beverly, that is a lot of meatballs! but ohhh so tasty! I love the combination of Apricot preserves (rarely used but delicious) and the Dijon mustard to off set the sweetness! great recipe. Thank You so much for sharing it at the Fluster Buster Party! I'm co-hosting today! Have a great week, Lizy

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  8. I love making (and eating) meatballs from scratch like this! Your sauce recipe sounds quite lovely -- I'll have to give this a try when the holiday season arrives and everyone wants me to bring meatballs! Thank you for sharing! :)

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