Cajun Meatball Stew Recipes

Steps:

• In heavy dutch oven (preferably cast iron or cast aluminum), heat oil over medium high heat. Add flour. Stir, constantly, until flour is dark brown, being very careful not to burn. Flour should be almost the color of chocolate syrup. This is your roux, which is the base of your gravy.
• To the flour mixture, add 2 cups of the chopped onion, 1 cup of the bell pepper and 1/2 cup of the celery. Reduce heat to medium, cooking until onions are transparent. Add enough water or beef broth to fill pot 2/3 of the way. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
• While this is cooking, make meatballs by combining ground chuck, remaining onions, bell pepper, and celery, 2 cloves of the minced garlic, eggs, milk, worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup of the parsley, bread crumbs, and salt and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
• Form into whatever size meatballs you prefer. I like to make mine about 1 1/2 - 2" round. One trick to making tender meatballs is not to pack the meat too firmly. Just form them enough for them to hold together. Also, do not pre-cook the meatballs after rolling.
• Add meatballs to the gravy. DO NOT STIR FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES! Stirring them will break them apart. Cook over medium low heat until gravy is desired consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and cayenne pepper. Skim as much of the fat as you can off of the top.
• Stir in remaining garlic, parsley, and chopped green onions. Cook for 5 minutes longer.
• Serve over hot cooked rice. I usually serve this with a side of early green peas or corn, and a fruit salad of some kind, such as pineapple, topped with grated cheddar cheese.
• As for the prep and cooking times, I just took a wild guess. Hehe!

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Place the bread and 3 tablespoons water into a medium bowl. Mash to a paste with a spatula. Add the beef, sausage, egg, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend the mixture thoroughly with your hands or a flexible spatula. Form the mixture into 10 to 16 meatballs. Arrange the meatballs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet until ready to use.
• For the hearty meatball stew: Sprinkle the meatballs with the flour and turn to coat with any flour still on the foil. Heat a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Drop the meatballs into the skillet, spaced apart. Cook until the bottoms are set and brown, about 2 minutes. Using a flexible thin spatula, turn each meatball onto an uncooked side and cook until the bottoms are set and brown, about 2 minutes longer. Turn and cook a third side, until set and brown, about another 2 minutes, so the meatballs are browned and set all over. Transfer the meatballs to a large plate.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, peppers, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook until soft, 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and the remaining salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, beans, tomatoes, red pepper flakes and broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook until the potatoes are tender and the meatballs are cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix thoroughly the ground beef, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, onion, bread crumbs, milk, and egg.
• Form the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until there is no pink left in the middle.
• In a small bowl, combine the barbeque sauce and peach preserves.
• When meatballs are done, place in a serving dish and cover with the barbeque sauce mixture. Toss to coat.

Steps:

• Combine beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, salt, pepper and thyme; shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs.
• In a large flameproof casserole or dutch oven, heat butter and oil; brown meatballs lightly on all sides.
• Drain excess fat and add remaining ingredients except parlsey, flour and water.
• (Recipe may be made ahead to this point and refrigerated).
• Cover and bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• During last 15 minutes of baking, thicken sauce with 2 tbsp flour into 1/2 cup cold water.
• Add parsley and serve.
• Note; This casserole freezes well, baked.
• Thaw completely and reheat at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• You can also freeze in tubs and pop into a crockpot to reheat.

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Using moistened hands and about 2 tablespoons of the mixture make 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Arrange meatballs on the cookie sheet. I prepared these ahead and put in the fridge.
• To make the stew: heat oil in a large ovenproof pot over medium heat. Stir in onions and saute them for 15 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, cinnamon, turmeric and saffron (if using) and cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, tomatoes and raisins.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring stew to a simmer and stir in carrots and meatballs. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cilantro. Cover pot and place in oven.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with spinach and cover and bake another 5 minutes.
• Stir to mix and remove cinnamon sticks.