Shelly's Recipe

Appetizer Meatballs Your Way

Category: Meatballs

Choose from Tex-Mex, Swedish, Chinese, or Middle Eastern flavors
Basic Meatball Mixture
Makes 48

1 1/2 pounds ground meat or poultry, or any combination (ground beef, veal, pork, lamb, chicken or turkey)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with non-stick spray or olive oil, or line pan with non-stick aluminum foil.

In a mixing bowl, combine ground meat, onion, bread crumbs, milk, parsley, salt and pepper. Add the seasoning for the flavor of meatball you want.

Form 48 meatballs from mixture and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, or until meatballs reach 160 degrees (165 degrees if using ground poultry).

If not serving immediately, keep warm in the oven or cool and refrigerate in shallow containers.

Accompany the meatballs with dipping sauce listed for meatball variety.

Tex-Mex Meatballs
Ground beef stands up to hearty flavors.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 teaspoon ground cumin.

Dipping sauce: purchased chunky salsa or green tomatillo salsa.

Swedish Meatballs
Ground turkey or chicken gives a delicate flavor.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika and 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg.

Dipping sauce: 1 cup sour cream, 1/3 cup milk, 2 tablespoons (half of a 1-ounce packet) dry onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dried dill weed. Mix together at least an hour before serving.

Chinese Meatballs
Get best flavor by using some ground pork.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon ground ginger.

Dipping sauce: purchased (10-ounce) jar sweet and sour sauce.

Middle-Eastern Meatballs
Get best flavor by using ground lamb.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Sprinkle formed meatballs with 2 tablespoons sesame seeds; press into meat.

Dipping sauce: 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon sugar.