Fig Meatballs Recipe 445

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and eggs. Add sausage; mix lightly but thoroughly. Divide into 36 portions. Shape each portion around 1/2 teaspoon cheese to cover completely. Place meatballs on a greased rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until cooked through, 25-30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and star anise to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Add figs; cook until softened, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a blender. Add 1 cup water; process until almost smooth. Serve with meatballs. If desired, top meatballs with chopped chives. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs and sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, stirring gently; add a little water if necessary.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two half sheet pans with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, gently combine ground lamb, pork or bacon, garlic, and smoked sea salt. Using a scoop, scoop out the meat mixture, finish forming into a ball, and place on prepared sheet pans. Bake in preheated oven, 25-30 minutes until meatballs reach your desired doneness. Just a few minutes before meatballs are done, heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add fig jam, fish sauce, and apple cider vinegar and heat until jam softens some. Once meatballs are done, place them in the skillet and let them continue cooking a few minutes, turning often, to allow flavors to meld. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 350°. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and eggs. Add sausage; mix lightly but thoroughly. Divide into 18 portions. Shape each portion around 1/2 teaspoon cheese to cover completely. in batches, place meatballs on a greased tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until cooked through, 25-30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and star anise to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Add figs; cook until softened, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a blender. Add 1/2 cup water; process until almost smooth. Serve with meatballs. If desired, top meatballs with chopped chives. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs and sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, stirring gently; add a little water if necessary.

Steps:

• For sauce, lightly saute the shallot in a sauce pan and then add tomato, fig, a splash of red wine, some broth (maybe halfway up the fig/tomato mixture, a 1/4 cup or so), a couple of teaspoons of salt, and the best pepper you have on hand. Mine came from Costco and I keep it fresh in the freezer, since it's pre-ground. Let this simmer while you prepare meatballs. Heat a skillet (mine was non-stick) and add a touch of olive oil. Add your 10 meatballs to the skillet to brown. Taste the sauce and add a touch of honey to balance it out, correct the seasonings. The figs will have varying amounts of sweetness, so add the honey to taste. Simmer the sauce really low and let it reduce. Brown the meatballs on all sides and cook them until done. I heated up pre-cooked brown rice and microwave-steamed some fresh brocolli. Add 5 meatballs to a plate (on top of rice if you like) and then spoon half the sauce over. I thought the taste was earthy, spicy and balanced with sweet and sour. Yummy!