Description
Polish porcupine meatballs blend ground beef and rice for a comforting family dinner. Hearty flavors meld together in this classic dish that connects generations through simple, satisfying ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
- 1 egg
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and apply a light coating of cooking spray to a baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef, raw rice, beaten egg, finely diced onion, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Craft uniform meatballs approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter, carefully positioning them in the prepared baking dish with slight spacing between each.
- Create a robust sauce by whisking together tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and water in a separate bowl until ingredients are fully integrated.
- Generously cascade the prepared tomato mixture over the arranged meatballs, ensuring complete coverage.
- Securely shield the baking dish with aluminum foil and roast in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, allowing the meatballs to cook thoroughly and the rice to become tender.
- Uncover the dish and return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, enabling the sauce to reduce and develop a richer consistency.
Notes
- Rice Texture Matters: Use long-grain white rice for the best texture and even cooking throughout the meatballs.
- Meat Mixing Technique: Gently mix ingredients to prevent tough, dense meatballs by avoiding overmixing the ground beef.
- Sauce Customization: Swap tomato sauce with marinara or add a splash of red wine for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Dietary Modifications: Replace ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for healthier or vegetarian options.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg