Meaty Balls

Sweet and sour meatballs are liked by people of all ages. To serve sweet and sour meatballs there are many ways. One way is to serve separately the meatballs and the sweet and sour sauce. This way the meatballs retain their luscious golden brown color and crunchy texture and guests can dip the balls in the glossy tangy sauce with the help of a toothpick. It’s fun serving it this way as a cocktail food or appetizer. Another way is to simmer the meatballs in the sauce and top it over steaming rice for a delicious satisfying Asian meal. The flavors of the sauce will be absorbed by the meatballs so when you bite into it all the juices will ooze out, producing a sensational dining experience.

A popular way is to skewer some meatballs in a barbecue stick and dip it in a jar of sweet and sour sauce, street food style. It’s albeit messy but entertaining snack that your guests will adore for a change, especially when eaten with ice cold beer. Perhaps it is best to make this recipe for a children’s party or as entrée for pot luck at the office. With just a handful of ingredients you can make a whole bunch of meatballs and feed a lot of people. Alternating pineapple chunks with meatballs as you skewer them you have an instant Hawaiian appetizer. But topped on rice it might as well be Asian or Chinese touch so it’s a very versatile dish.

What’s also wonderful about this recipe is that the balls can be made ahead wrapped in plastic film and frozen so you can just easily bring them out and cook on busy days and instantly enjoy an easy Chinese dinner in no time at all. For a well-rounded meal serve them with a side of green beans or vegetables.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
½ tsp. salt
1/3 cup water
1 egg, beaten slightly
½ cup crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup pineapple chunks, drained
1 tsp. instant minced onion or 1/4 cup freshly minced onions
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup ketchup
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed

For a healthier choose lean or extra lean ground beef dish. Fry the meatballs in hot oil so they don’t clump together when you cook them in the sauce or you can also bake the meatballs sans oil in a 350° oven for 20 minutes for a healthier way to enjoy them.