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The many ways to have a (meat)ball

Have mince, can meatball. Whatever your mince of choice, there's a tasty meatball just waiting to be rolled.

Beef meatball skewers

Source: Billy Law

Lately, the grocery budget is getting put through the mincer. Our dollars just don't roll as far as they used to, despite our best efforts.

This is where mince comes into its own. A kilo of good quality beef, pork, chicken, turkey or lamb mince will stretch to many meals. Especially when it comes in meatball form.

So, get the ball rolling on dinner with these mighty meatball meals.
Delicious polpette meatballs (Alan Benson)
Served with or without spaghetti, these meatballs make a memorable mincey meal. Source: Delicious polpette meatballs (Alan Benson)
The Italians sure know how to meatball, as this hearty beef demonstrates. A rich tomato sauce ensures there won't be a dry meatball in sight. Mopping it up with a rustic bread loaf fills bellies to the brim on a budget.
Swedish rissoles
Swedish meatballs are distinguished by their comfort food-heaven sauce of cream and beef broth. Source: Kitti Gould
If you've ever journeyed to IKEA just to order their , this one is for you.  The Vegemite is a dead giveaway that this recipe isn't exactly authentic, but what it lacks in actual Swedishness, it more than makes up for in taste.
Shanghainese lion’s head meatballs (shi zi tou)
This is soft and comforting home-style food the kind that feels like your grandmother’s hug. Source: Cynthia C
The shape of these is supposed to resemble a lion’s head and the green vegetables around it, the mane. One thing we know is the fam will be roaring for more after trying this one.
Koenigsberg meatballs
Meatballs fit for an ancient king. Source: Alan Benson
(klopse) are made in the style of the East Prussian city Königsberg. Which basically means you dunk your meatballs in lots and lots of buttery white sauce.
Youverlakia Meatballl, lemon and dill soup
The mince is rolled with rice and fresh herbs, keeping the meatballs light and airy. Source: Jeremy Simons
The Greek take on is via a lemon and egg broth (avgolemono). If you've never experienced the tangy avgolemono before, you're in for a real treat. Be sure to have your eggs at room temperature before you start whisking, otherwise, you risk curdling your eggs.
Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
Simply flavoured with red onion, parsley, mint and oregano, keftedes are brilliant when served with tzatiki or as a side for a big Greek salad. Source: My Greek Table
Another Greek meatball triumph, can be found on mezze platters across the islands. They've got a slight crunch to them, but inside they stay soft and melty.
Frikkadels stuffed with camembert
Frikkadels are also found in Germany, Scandanavia, Poland and South Africa. Now that's a well travelled meatball. Source: Peter Kuruvita's Coastal Kitchen
These Dutch  are stuffed with camembert. Repeat: stuffed with camembert.
Lebanese Lamb Kofta
The kofta/ kofte/ kafteh/ kofteh version of meatballs is made throughout the Middle East. Source: SBS Food
The origin of the word comes from the Persian word kufteh, which means ‘mashed’. Before food processors, meat was literally mashed using a large mortar and pestle. Makes you more grateful for that handy packet of mince, eh?
Sweet ginger meatballs
Meatballs may not sound Japanese but it’s all about the sauce. Source: Cook Japan / Bloomsbury
Meatballs are surprisingly common in Japanese homes, a testament to the beauty of fusion cooking. is smothered in a sticky sauce that manages to cram in all the traditional Japanese flavours.
Baked seafood balls
To create this wonderfully fragrant and delicate dish, simply combine delicious fresh seafood, roll the mixture into balls and bake them in paper parcels. Source: Murdoch Books
Now here's a package we can't wait to unwrap. never needs to be left out of your meatball game, even if it means having to blitz your mince. Way to make your seafood go further!
The ultimate meatball sandwich
Juicy pork and fennel meatballs, a rich tomato sauce, crunchy sweet fennel pickles and a nutty, dreamy pesto make an excellent contender for the ultimate title. Source: Hardie Grant Books
claims to be the 'ultimate meatball sandwich', but we reckon this one might have something to say about that:
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Meatball hero

Lamb, almond, saffron and honey meatballs
It's like eating an entire Marrakesh market. Source: Sharyn Cairns
When you want a good punch with your meatballs, . Loads of spices are balanced by honey, almonds and a yoghurt dip.
Cracked wheat and beef patties (trakht)
Traditionally, the Malkasians fill one or two patties with a gold coin or a carrot slice as 'treasure', hence the name trakht meaning 'treasure’ in Armenian. Source: Sean Fennessy
The on a good meatball adds burghul wheat to lean beef mince and the red capsicum paste biber salçasi. The result is a meatball worthy of celebration.
Lemongrass sliders
Traditionally the meat is in this recipe would be chopped by hand, using two cleavers and alternating chop-chop-chop, as it’s done by all the Tai peoples (the word for the technique in the Tai languages is laap). Source: Richard Jung
If you flatten your meatballs slightly (as in ), they're known as sliders. Sliders are actually a little easier to cook, having a higher surface ratio to grab the heat of the pan.
Spicy meatballs with adjika and yoghurt
Adjika (‘red salt’) is a spicy and fragrant pepper paste from Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia. Source: Kyle Books / Laura Edwards
Another meatball recipe that packs some POW. In the case of , it's the spicy, peppery adjika all the way. It's 100 percent worth making your own.
Meatballs on a stick tend to only be a thing at parties. In Korea, they've r and we couldn't be more pleased. Feel free to skewer any of the meatball recipes on this list!

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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
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4 min read
Published 5 October 2022 6:44pm
By SBS Food bite-sized
Source: SBS


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