Description
Hearty Polish porcupine meatballs blend ground beef, rice, and savory seasonings into a comforting classic. Simmered in tomato sauce, these delightful spheres offer a nostalgic taste of home-cooked warmth you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Grains and Binding:
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 egg
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Blend ground beef, rice, diced onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Craft uniform spherical meatballs approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Warm a large skillet and combine tomato sauce, water, and Worcestershire sauce over medium heat, creating a savory liquid base.
- Gently nestle meatballs into the simmering sauce, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Cover the skillet and reduce heat, allowing meatballs to cook slowly for 45 minutes, occasionally rotating them to promote even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Once meatballs are cooked through and rice is tender, remove from heat and let rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer meatballs to serving plates and generously ladle additional warm sauce over the top for enhanced flavor and moisture.
Notes
- Swap rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice to make the dish gluten-free and lower in carbohydrates.
- Add finely chopped bell peppers or grated carrots to boost vegetable content and enhance nutritional value.
- Use lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter protein option with reduced fat content.
- Create a spicier version by incorporating red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce into the tomato sauce mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg