Meatballs And Burger Buns
Meatballs are that world ultimate dish that each country has different name for. While I was growing up, I enjoyed my meatballs as “polpette” that were first lightly fried in oil, added to tomato sauce, and served with a side of creamy mashed potatoes. My mom’s polpette weren’t round (balls), they were more like patties. Just delicious every single time! When I got married I started to enjoy my meatballs as “kofte”, cooked in oven as a casserole with sliced potatoes, either in tomato or tahini sauce, and always with a side of rice. As life road lead us to Sweden, my meatballs became “köttbullar”; there, meatballs are often served with served with mashed potatoes, “gräddsås” (a creamy gravy) and “lingonberry sylt” (cranberry jam). And now, in USA, I proudly enjoy them as meatballs over the pasta, with potatoes, in a sandwich… So my recipe is a mix of all recipes from countries I was blessed to call my home, but no matter what you call them, there is only one word that can describe meatballs: heavenly indulgence! Well, maybe two :)
Total Steps
8
Ingredients
23
Tools Needed
9
Ingredients
- 3 cup ground lamb
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed chili peppers
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dry basil
- 1 teaspoon dry Mexican oregano
- 1 medium onion
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup milk
- 28 ounces can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 cup finely chopped sweet banana peppers
- 2 finely chopped jalapeno peppers
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed chili peppers
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
Instructions
Step 1
In a small bowl, combine plain breadcrumbs and milk. Stir to combine and let stand for a minute or two.
Step 2
Finely chop onion and garlic in a food processor.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, all spices and herbs (paprika, crushed chili peppers, ground cumin, dry basil, dry Mexican oregano), salt, black pepper, and chopped onion and garlic. Add lightly beaten eggs and the milk-soaked plain breadcrumbs. Mix all together gently with clean hands, being careful not to over-knead. Using an ice-cream scoop, form 30 meatballs.
Step 4
Bake the meatballs in a preheated 400°F oven for about 7 minutes.
Step 5
Place a pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, salt, paprika, and crushed chili peppers. Sauté until the peppers are tender, for about 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, grated garlic, sugar, and fresh basil. When the sauce starts to bubble, add the baked meatballs and cook for another 10 minutes.
Step 6
Prepare burger buns by following the recipe at: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Burger-or-Hot-Dog-Buns/Detail.aspx
Step 7
With the help of a fork, open a burger bun.
Step 8
Place the opened burger bun onto a plate and generously smother with sauce. Top with meatballs and then with shredded cheese (e.g., Swiss, mild cheddar, and Muenster). Put under the broiler for a minute or two until the cheese is melted.