| Posted By |
Message |
mrsrainbow
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 1465 total posts
Name:
|
How to make tender meatballs?
I am not Italian! I make a pretty good (imo!) meatball but I would love to make the really tender meatballs I get at Uncle G's or Italian resuatarnts. I have used beef and combinations of beef/pork or beef/sausage, plus all my seasonings, etc...I also simmer in the sauce.
Any good recipes to share?
|
Posted 9/5/18 3:05 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
|
How to make tender meatballs?
Hofstra26 has a great one! Also, her food blog is amazing! Check it out!
https://thesimplydeliciouskitchen.com
And you can follow her on FB too
|
| Posted 9/6/18 5:57 AM |
| |
|
PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by mrsrainbow
I am not Italian! I make a pretty good (imo!) meatball but I would love to make the really tender meatballs I get at Uncle G's or Italian resuatarnts. I have used beef and combinations of beef/pork or beef/sausage, plus all my seasonings, etc...I also simmer in the sauce.
Any good recipes to share?
Add Milk
Milk helps make meatballs tender. I just learned this recently. DHs cousin made meatballs that i swore was the beef, pork, veal mixture because they were so tender - he said they were just beef but he used milk in the mixture to help soften it. Plus, don't over work the meat. Mix it just enough. Over mixing can cause it to get tough too.
|
| Posted 9/6/18 8:51 AM |
| |
|
HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Add 2 eggs and a splash of milk. Don't overwork the meat. Fry, don't bake.
I've found the second egg makes all the difference.
|
| Posted 9/6/18 9:13 AM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by LIRascal
Hofstra26 has a great one! Also, her food blog is amazing! Check it out!
https://thesimplydeliciouskitchen.com
And you can follow her on FB too
Thank you!!! 
A lot of meatball recipes, even the one I use, call for breadcrumbs but using them alone will result in a more firm meatball. Soften bread (no crusts) with a little water so it's mushy and incorporate that into you meatball mixture. The bread makes ALL the difference IMO, even more so then what meat combo you're using. I prefer all beef myself but that is just personal preference. 
To add to what was said, overworking the meat will create a really tough meatball so mix it just enough to incorporate the ingredients. Roll gently as well. I have not found a difference in texture between frying and baking, I do both depending on my mood.
To further soften them if you're baking or frying, allow them to simmer in your tomato sauce. The sauce will help to soften (and flavor) them.
Message edited 9/6/2018 10:00:55 AM.
|
| Posted 9/6/18 9:57 AM |
| |
|
cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
I think it's the eggs that make them light. I often make the Maroni recipes and there's ALOT of eggs in the recipe. They come our super light.
|
| Posted 9/6/18 8:16 PM |
| |
|
Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
|
How to make tender meatballs?
2 eggs to 1 pound of meat? I never get this right!
|
| Posted 9/7/18 3:21 PM |
| |
|
HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by Aries14
2 eggs to 1 pound of meat? I never get this right!
Yes, I do 2 eggs to 1 lb of meat. In the past I used to do 1 egg and they came out much drier and dense. The 2nd egg makes a huge difference.
|
| Posted 9/10/18 9:18 AM |
| |
|
b2b777
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 4474 total posts
Name:
|
How to make tender meatballs?
There is a huge diff when you use breadcrumb vs. milk soaked white bread. I also find that if you cook the meatballs in the sauce they come out better than frying or baking.
|
| Posted 9/10/18 1:44 PM |
| |
|
Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
|
| Posted 9/10/18 2:41 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by Lauren82
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
My grandmother used to make meatballs with raisins, I'm not a fan. lol
|
| Posted 9/10/18 5:04 PM |
| |
|
b2b777
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 4474 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Lauren82
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
My grandmother used to make meatballs with raisins, I'm not a fan. lol
I just made gravy and meatballs using the simply delicious recipes. Hope they taste as good as they smell!!
|
| Posted 9/16/18 12:55 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by b2b777
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Lauren82
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
My grandmother used to make meatballs with raisins, I'm not a fan. lol
I just made gravy and meatballs using the simply delicious recipes. Hope they taste as good as they smell!!
Let me know how they turned out!! Hope everything was delish!! 
|
| Posted 9/16/18 11:53 PM |
| |
|
lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
I add milk and eggs to the ground meat when I am mixing... Nothing worse than a dry meatball.... My mother in law makes the WORST meatballs, they always come out so dry. I feel bad because whenever she hosts a holiday she makes them and I never take any.
|
| Posted 9/17/18 11:46 AM |
| |
|
b2b777
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 4474 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by b2b777
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Lauren82
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
My grandmother used to make meatballs with raisins, I'm not a fan. lol
I just made gravy and meatballs using the simply delicious recipes. Hope they taste as good as they smell!!
Let me know how they turned out!! Hope everything was delish!!
They were DELISHHHH -- best meatballs ive had in a long time. The gravy was also really good. My husband found it too oniony, but that could be because i skipped the red wine (didnt have any). Next time ill just put less onion or cut it finer. I need a food processor!
Any recipes for thanksgiving? The best turkey? Mashed Potatoes? Im hosting this year. HELP lol
|
| Posted 9/17/18 1:21 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by b2b777
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by b2b777
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by Lauren82
I always use meatloaf mix for mine and use white bread soaked in milk along with eggs to bind them. I also add a good amount of seasoning and raisins (weird to some people, but that's what my husband's family does, so I had to adapt!) I don't roll them too tight. I broil mine to brown and then finish them in my sauce.
My grandmother used to make meatballs with raisins, I'm not a fan. lol
I just made gravy and meatballs using the simply delicious recipes. Hope they taste as good as they smell!!
Let me know how they turned out!! Hope everything was delish!!
They were DELISHHHH -- best meatballs ive had in a long time. The gravy was also really good. My husband found it too oniony, but that could be because i skipped the red wine (didnt have any). Next time ill just put less onion or cut it finer. I need a food processor!
Any recipes for thanksgiving? The best turkey? Mashed Potatoes? Im hosting this year. HELP lol
Yay!!! So glad!!!!!!! 
For the onions, just dice them finer and let them cook down a little more. They will become softer and more translucent as you cook them which makes them less noticeable in the sauce.
Thanksgiving Ideas - I have an AWESOME turkey recipe for you, I'll msg you!!
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Do this to make them garlic mashed!!
Roasting Garlic
Sweet Potato Caserole
Cranberry Brie Bites
Dutch Apple Pie
Cranberry Jam - Delish on turkey!!
Cheese Board - Perfect and EASY app
|
| Posted 9/17/18 7:19 PM |
| |
|
MC09
arrrghhh!!!!
Member since 2/09 5674 total posts
Name:
Me speaks pirate!
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Oh I want the turkey recipe too!
|
| Posted 9/17/18 9:52 PM |
| |
|
Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by MC09
Oh I want the turkey recipe too!
I'll post it!
|
| Posted 9/17/18 10:01 PM |
| |
|
MC09
arrrghhh!!!!
Member since 2/09 5674 total posts
Name:
Me speaks pirate!
|
Re: How to make tender meatballs?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by MC09
Oh I want the turkey recipe too!
I'll post it!
Awesome thanks!
|
| Posted 9/17/18 10:55 PM |
| |
|
