Meatball Salad Food

GREEK MEATBALL SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler on high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Pulse 1/2 cup of the pita chips in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon each red wine vinegar and olive oil.
• Coarsely chop one of the onion halves and add it to the food processor. Add 1/4 cup of the mint and the garlic and pulse until very finely chopped. Add this mixture to the bowl with the ground pita chips and mix well with your hands. Add the beef, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mix gently with your hands until well combined.
• Dampen your hands and form the mixture into 24 small meatballs, using about 1 tablespoon for each. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing the meatballs about 1 inch apart. Spread the tomatoes cut-side up in a single layer on the other side of the pan.
• Broil until the meatballs are almost cooked through and browned and the tomatoes are blistered, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Combine the yogurt, the remaining 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to make the dressing. Very thinly slice the remaining onion half and add it to a clean large bowl along with the lettuce, bell peppers and remaining 1/4 cup mint leaves. Toss with the dressing and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Top with the meatballs, tomatoes and remaining 1 cup pita chips and serve.

MEATBALL SALAD

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Combine the Parmesan, ricotta, breadcrumbs, milk and egg in a medium bowl and stir well to combine and allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the liquid. Add the pork, sausage and salt and use your hands to mix gently to combine.
• Heat a medium straight sided skillet over medium heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet. Roll heaping tablespoons of the meat mixture into balls and place in the hot oil. Add as many as the skillet will allow without overcrowding, working in two batches if needed. Brown the balls on all sides, rotating as needed, about 8 minutes. Remove the balls to a plate and pour off the oil from the skillet. Add the marinara and 1/4 cup water to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Return the balls to the sauce and cover the skillet. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• For the salad: Meanwhile, toss together the arugula, Parmesan shavings, olive oil and lemon juice in a medium bowl.
• Spoon 5 or 6 meatballs into a bowl, then top with some of the salad and serve. Repeat to make 4 more servings.

MEZE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Put the breadcrumbs in a bowl and add the milk. Leave for 5 mins, or until the milk has been absorbed. Add the rest of the meatball ingredients, except the flour and oil. Season well with salt and pepper and mix everything well with your hands, then shape into meatballs a bit larger than a cherry tomato. You should have about 24. Cover and chill the meatballs for at least 30 mins. Will keep covered and chilled for up to 24 hrs.
• When you're ready to cook, tip the flour into a shallow bowl. Roll the meatballs in the flour to coat, then heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the meatballs for 10-12 mins, rolling them around the pan until nicely browned on all sides and cooked through. To serve, arrange on a platter with some chopped salad made using the cucumber, tomatoes and red onion, and bowls of hummus and tzatziki alongside. Toast the pittas and let everyone make their own meatball kebab, stuffing the meatballs, salad and dips into the pittas.

PORK MEATBALLS AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°F. Place raisins in a small bowl and pour in hot water to cover; let sit until ready to use.
• Place cucumbers in a colander or sieve set in or over a large bowl; sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt and toss to combine. Let sit while you make the meatballs. (It will seem like a lot of cucumbers at first, but they will shrink down as they drain.)
• Meanwhile, drizzle 2 Tbsp. oil over a large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange pine nuts in an even layer on another rimmed baking sheet (use a quarter-sheet if you have one!).
• Finely chop ¼ cup olives. Transfer to a large bowl and add egg, garlic, panko, parsley, 1½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes; season with black pepper. Drain raisins and add half to bowl; mix well to combine. Add pork and gently mix with your hands to incorporate. Working one at a time, scoop out heaping tablespoonfuls of pork mixture and form into balls (think about the size of a golf ball; you should get about 20). Arrange on oiled baking sheet, spacing 1" apart. Turn to coat.
• Bake meatballs, rotating baking sheet front to back halfway through, until browned on bottom and cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Toast pine nuts on bottom rack until golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup olives. Gather cucumbers into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out any excess liquid into bowl (don't worry if they get a little smashed); discard liquid. Wipe out bowl and combine cucumbers, olives, pine nuts, onion, herbs, and remaining raisins in bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, season with salt and black pepper, and toss again to coat.
• Swoosh a generous scoop of yogurt over each plate, then top with salad and meatballs. Season with more black pepper and red pepper flakes if desired.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH BEETROOT & APPLE SALAD

Steps:

• To make the meatballs, tip the pork into a bowl and add the grated courgette and onion, half the dill, half the garlic and plenty of black pepper. Break in the egg and mix well with your hands. When everything is well combined, break off walnut-size pieces and roll into balls - you should end up with about 28. The mixture will be very soft.
• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan then gently fry the meatballs in two batches until firm and pale golden, turning them every now and then so they brown evenly. Each batch should take 6-8 mins.
• Wipe out the pan to remove excess fat and add the remaining garlic and thyme, then pour in the bouillon and bring to the boil. Turn off the heat, stir in the crème fraîche and remaining dill, then return the meatballs to the pan and turn them in the mixture until coated.
• For the salad, mix the apple, onion, parsley and capers with the lemon, then stir through the beetroot. Serve the salad alongside the meatballs. If you're cooking for two people, eat half the meatballs and salad now, and chill the rest for another day - it will keep in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat the meatballs in the microwave until piping hot.

ORIENTAL MEATBALL SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine eggs and milk.
• Stir in bread crumbs.
• Add beef and mix gently.
• Shape into 3/4 inch meatballs.
• In skillet cook meatballs in oil about 10 minutes or until done.
• Turn frequently.
• Drain.
• Drain pineapple and reserve juice.
• Add water to juice to make ¾ cup liquid.
• In bowl combine pineapple chunks, green pepper, carrot, celery and meatballs.
• In small saucepan combine brown sugar, cornstarch.
• Stir in the pineapple liquid, wine, vinegar and soy sauce.
• Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
• Pour hot dressing over meatball mixture.
• Cover and chill.
• To serve carefully stir tomato wedges into meatballs (or reserve tomatoes for garnish around salad).
• Place shredded lettuce on each of 4 serving plates.
• Carefully spoon meatball mixture on top.
• Sprinkle with rice or chow mein noodles if desired.