Introduction

Porcupine meatballs are a delicious and unique variation of the classic meatball that feature a surprise ingredient -rice! The rice gives these meatballs a “porcupine” appearance, with the grains sticking out like quills. Not only visually appealing, but these meatballs are full of flavor and make for a perfect comfort food. Follow this easy recipe to cook up a batch of delicious porcupine meatballs.

Ingredients

– 1 lb ground beef

– 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

– 1/4 cup chopped onion

– 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper

– 1 large egg

– 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

– 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

– 1/2 teaspoon salt

– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

– 2 cups tomato sauce

– 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)

– 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, chopped green bell pepper, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well using your hands or a wooden spoon.

2. Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. You should have around 18 to 20 meatballs.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add some cooking oil. Place the meatballs in the skillet and cook them until browned on all sides. This should take about 5 minutes per side.

4. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

5. In a separate pot, combine tomato sauce with optional ingredients (brown sugar and apple cider vinegar) if you prefer it sweet and tangy. Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

6. Once the sauce is heated, add the browned meatballs to the pot and gently stir to coat them with the sauce.

7. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the rice in the meatballs is fully cooked and tender. Make sure to occasionally stir the meatballs during simmering to prevent sticking.

8. Check a meatball by cutting into it – if the rice is fully cooked and tender, they are ready to serve.

9. Serve your porcupine meatballs over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or alongside a green salad. Enjoy!

Conclusion

This delicious and unique porcupine meatball recipe offers a delightful twist on traditional meatballs, with the added texture and visual appeal provided by rice. Simple to prepare and full of flavor, these meatballs make for a comforting meal that your whole family will love. Try making a batch today and enjoy this tasty treat!