Hedgehog Meatballs Recipes

THE ABSOLUTE BEST PORCUPINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F. In a bowl, add all sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In a small bowl add the bread and milk and gently press down. Allow to soak for ~5 minutes.
• In a large bowl add the rest of the meatball ingredients. Add the panade mixture (milk and bread) to the bowl. Without overworking the mixture, gently mix just to combine. The mixture should be wet but hold a shape when you form it into a ball. Scoop enough meat mixture to form a 2" round ball (I use a large cookie scoop to measure out my meatballs). Wet your hands and shape. Damp hands are a trick to keeping the mixture from sticking to your hands! *See post for freezing instructions.
• Place the meatballs in a 3-4 quart baking dish or 9×13" baking pan. They can touch. Repeat until all of the meatballs are shaped and in a pan. If necessary, use 2 pans if you do not have a large enough pan.
• Pour the mixture over top of the meatballs. Cover the meatballs with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the cover and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165F.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before plating.
• Store leftovers in a lidded container in the fridge for up to a week.

CLASSIC PORCUPINE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the rice, water, chopped onion, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
• Shape the ground beef mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to help make them uniform in size. (Or you can weigh them as you shape them.) Place them in an ungreased 2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Make the sauce by mixing together the tomato sauce, water, and Worcestershire sauce in a measuring cup or bowl.
• Now it's time to cook the meatballs. Continue reading for the oven method, or scroll down to the stovetop method.
• Pour the sauce over the porcupine meatballs, cover the baking dish tightly with foil, and bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 55 minutes.
• Uncover and bake the meatballs 15 to 20 minutes longer, until bubbling and cooked through. Serve and enjoy.
• Add about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to a large deep skillet over medium heat.
• Add the shaped meatballs and cook, turning, until the meatballs are evenly browned. Drain and discard the drippings.
• Add the tomato sauce ingredients to the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer. Lower the heat and cover the pan. Continue cooking for about 45 minutes. Check occasionally and add water, if necessary. Serve and enjoy.

HEDGEHOGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the beef, onion, rice, thyme, sage, rosemary, salt, pepper and beaten egg.
• Mix well with hands, making mixture into medium sized, meatballs, (about the size of a large walnut).
• Set aside.
• Pour soup into a large saucepan, and dilute with 1 can of water.
• Heat to simmering over medium heat.
• Add the sage leaves.
• Lower heat to low, drop meatballs into soup and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the tomato soup has thickened.
• Remove the sage leaves.
• Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans.