Best meatball ingredients

[Chadruharazzeb]

I've heard mixed things about meatball ingredients. Some say beef, others say pork. One recipe I saw had beef mixed with sausagemeat!!!?

What, subsequently, would be the best kind of herbs? I assume it depends on what kind of meat you end up using?

These meatballs are for pasta/ tomato sauce. Naturally.

[lancashirebambaata]

The beauty of meatball si fyou can use what you like.

I usually use half beef, half pork, onion grated, garlic, herbs from the garden ( roasemary, sage,thyme, parsley) and some breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs are important cos they soak up all the flavour from the meat and herbs, plus your meatbals aren't too dense.

But the other day i made some "chrorizo meatballs" with pork, smoked sweet paprika, garlic, chilli.

Twas nice.

[Dude Ranch]

The beauty of meatball si fyou can use what you like.

I usually use half beef, half pork, onion grated, garlic, herbs from the garden ( roasemary, sage,thyme, parsley) and some breadcrumbs.

Yeah, more or less exactly this. I usually fry my onions first and let them go cold.

[Davros sock drawer]

I've made some really nice, light meatballs using pork, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and oregano.

[the anti-lfj]

The beauty of meatball si fyou can use what you like.

I usually use half beef, half pork, onion grated, garlic, herbs from the garden ( roasemary, sage,thyme, parsley) and some breadcrumbs.

This sounds like roughly how mrs lfj does meatballs, and she does them very very well.

And for "pork" usually it's sausagemeat or broken up actual sausages.

[Looper]

I've made some really nice, light meatballs using pork, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and oregano.

Aw yum... you reminded me. I've done them a few times. So, so nice.

[Tangent]

I like them using beef with breadcrumbs, onions, garlic, herbs & black olives, browned off then cooked in a red wine / tomatoe sauce.

But a few breadcrumbs are the key to a good meatball. That and not overcooking them.

Trust me

[fattakin]

Lean Mince, Onion, Parsley, breadcrumbs or white bread broken up and dipped in milk (then squeeze milk out) & 1 egg - mix in massive bowl and make the little buggers.

Good red wine tomato or tomato & balsamic sauce MMM

[Chadruharazzeb]

Thanks for the advice, folks.

In the end the balls were made with

Lean steak mince

Onions (one red, one white)

Breadcrumbs

Crushed garlic

Oregano

Fresh parsley

We made miles too much though so turned the rest of the mixture into burgers. Yummies.

[oli]

Do you need something to bind them together?

[Chadruharazzeb]

Doh! We used a beaten egg.

Forgot about that.

[ScouserInExile]

Want meatballs now. Can you buy breadcrumbs? Bread never stays in our house long enough to go stale...

[lancashirebambaata]

Want meatballs now. Can you buy breadcrumbs? Bread never stays in our house long enough to go stale...

stick in a really low oven for a bit so it goes hard but doesn't brown then mash it up

Or freeze it then grate it.

I have had fine results with fresh bread so long as it isn't that plastic white sliced stuff.

[Dude Ranch]

Bread never stays in our house long enough to go stale...

I wouldn't worry at all.

[ScouserInExile]

stick in a really low oven for a bit so it goes hard but doesn't brown then mash it up

Or freeze it then grate it.

I have had fine results with fresh bread so long as it isn't that plastic white sliced stuff.

Freezing and grating sounds the way forward (this works well with ginger as well, btw). Does it matter if it's brown bread? We don't ever have white.

[JPickford (retired mod)]

I just put toast in the blender.