I have been on a mission to cook creatively without my oven.
Iwas baking cookies when I heard a zap-buzzzzzzt coming from my oven and when Ilooked over I saw a bright red flame. The bottoms of my cookies were charredblack and my kitchen filled with smoke. I guess you could say that my oven wasannouncing its retirement in a very dramatic way. It wasn’t a completesurprise. I have been putting off replacing my oven for years but didn’t because, it’s complicated. Blah, blah, blah...
Enough of the rant. Time for the experiment!
Iknow that boiled meatballs and delicious shouldn't be in the same sentence, but I needed a way to cook the meatballs throughwithout an oven.
To my surprise boiling the meatballs removed the fattiness while keeping it tender and juicy. They were fantastic and better than the ones that I usually pan fry then bake and the clean up wasminimal since I only used one pot.
Proof that this method of cooking was a keeper is when my daughter stopped by for a surprise visit. She scanned the fridge for leftovers and picked out a cold meatball then mumbled with her mouth full, these are better than your Damn Good Meatballs. As she reached in the fridge for a second meatball I told her, those are my Damn Good Meatballs - just boiled. I guess I'll be boiling my meatballs from now on.
My notes to you…
- Chillmeatballs after you shape them for at least an hour or overnight so they willhold their shape better.
- Afteryou boil the meatballs you can either saute them with butter or olive oil tobrown, add them to your favorite bottled sauce or my easy tomato sauce (recipe below) or place them in thefreezer for a quick meal for later).
BOILED MEATBALLS
8 cups water
1 Tbsp. koshersalt
Gentlyplace meatballs one at a time into the boiling water. Stir gently once or twiceso they will cook evenly. Boil over med-high heat for 13-15 min. or until it iscooked through. Remove meatballs with a slotted spoon.
(makes 16 meatballs)
2pounds ground beef
1/3cupItalianseasoned bread crumbs
1Tblsp.dryparsley, (2 Tblsp. fresh)
½cupparmesancheese, grated
2tsp.koshersalt
½tsp.blackpepper
1/8tsp.nutmeg
1largeegg
¾cupwarmwater
In a large bowl add all theingredients except the ground beef and mix well.Break up the ground beef into the bowl and mix to blend. Making sure that theseasoning gets evenly mixed into the beef.
To make 16 even meatballs, divide the beef into 4. Make 4 meatballs with eachsection by rolling them in the palms of your hands.
Boil meatballs as instructed above.
Serve with your favorite bottled sauce or make my easy tomato sauce.
2clovesgarlic, minced
1small onion, chopped
½med carrot, grated (or ½ tsp. sugar)
2Tbsp. tomato paste
128 oz. can Italian whole peeledtomatoes
128 oz. can Italian crushed tomatoes
1cup water
1tsp. dried basil
1tsp. dried oregano
½tsp. kosher salt
¼tsp. black pepper
¼tsp. crushed pepper (more if you like it spicy)
Place heavy bottom pot over med-highheat. Add 1 Tbsp. oil to the pot along with the garlic, onions andcarrots. Stir to mix and lower heat; cook covered for about 5 minutes oruntil the onions are very soft. Clear a spot in the middle of the pot andadd tomato paste and let cook for about a minute. Stir to mix; add thetomatoes (crush the whole ones with your hands), water, basil, oregano, saltand peppers. Stir to mix and let simmer covered for 30 minutes.
FAQs
Drop meatballs into boiling water; cover pan, reduce heat and simmer for 1/2 hour. Combine flour and cold water to make a thickening agent. Add to simmering meat stock and bring back to a boil.
How long to boil meatballs in sauce? ›
I usually start it out on medium-high heat and add my raw meatballs to the pan. When the sauce comes to a boil, I lower the stove to medium-low heat and let the meatballs cook slowly. The meatballs will be completely cooked in about 30 minutes, but the cooking time can be longer.
Is it better to bake or cook meatballs? ›
Baking them gives the meatballs a little more flavor without additional oil since you are searing the outside under the broiler in your oven. Just make sure you bake them on a really heavy-duty baking sheet like this one.
How long to boil raw frozen meatballs? ›
Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer: FROZEN: 20-25 minutes or until heated through; THAWED: 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Is it OK to boil ground meat? ›
Boiling your ground beef is a great idea if you want to cook with leaner, less fatty meat. This is a simple, quick, and easy-to-clean process where you cover the meat in water and brown it on medium heat for for 3-5 minutes or so. Boiled beef is also often used to feed dogs, as it is a great form of protein.
Can you cook raw meat by boiling it? ›
Yes, you can boil almost any type of meat. Common choices include beef, chicken, pork, and lamb. The cooking time and technique may vary depending on the type and cut of meat you are using.
What not to do when making meatballs? ›
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
- Not seasoning the meat.
- Not adding any moisture to the meat.
- Over-mixing the meat.
- Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
- Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
Tenderizing the Meat:
As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.
Why are my homemade meatballs tough? ›
Don't overmix. When meatballs are tough, it's often because they've been overworked.
Do meatballs float when cooked? ›
Depending on the size of your pot, you may need to cook them in two batches, approximately 15 meatballs per batch. The meatballs will begin to float after about 4 minutes, but they will not be fully cooked.
TIP: Defrosting the meatballs before cooking will mean you can brown them well in a pan, if that's what your recipe needs. If the meatballs are cooked in a sauce, you can skip the defrosting step and simply cook the meatballs directly in the sauce from frozen. Cook for an extra 5 minutes or until cooked through.
Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›
While you can technically use a microwave to cook frozen meatballs, it is not the recommended method. Microwaving can cause the meatballs to become rubbery and unevenly cooked. It is best to use the oven or stovetop for more desirable results.
Can you heat meatballs on the stove? ›
Combine the meatballs and sauce in a pan and cook over low heat until the meatballs are warmed through. The timing is dependent on how many meatballs you're heating. If it's just a few, it should take about 10 minutes, with more meatballs adding more cook time.
Can you simmer meatballs too long? ›
Homecook World explains meatballs can become overcooked if you allow them to simmer for too long. The overcooked meatballs will result in a tough texture and become soft and soggy over time as they absorb too much sauce and liquid.
How do you make sure meatballs are cooked inside? ›
Bring a marinara or other pasta sauce to a simmer and add as many meatballs as will fit comfortably in the pan. Cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes. The meatballs are done when they're cooked through and register 165°F in the middle on an instant-read thermometer.
