It’s February and that means love is in the air. You can feel Cupid, that chubby little Valentine’s Day cherub, aiming for targets with his trusty bow and arrows. We think of heartfelt gifts, soulful serenades, and romantic dinners. Just the act of cooking and sharing a meal is filled with such love. Romance is dinner for two by candlelight. It’s a classic scene right out of the movies. Even Disney captured the epitome of animated amour with two pups sharing a plate of pasta. Nothing says true love like Tramp nosing that last meatball across the plate to woo his precious Lady!
Taking a cue from that canine couple, we decided to find some recipes to recreate their special dinner. And what better than making meatballs together as a fun way for a couple to get hands on with the cuisine. But when we started looking for the best meatball recipes, we discovered there was a bigger love story to tell. The whole world loves a meatball.
It’s believed that meatballs, or “kofta,” originated in Persia. From there, the dish was introduced to the Arabs, who brought it to the Italians and the Spanish, and now you can find them everywhere! From the Netherlands to Asia to Turkey, you can find countless types of meatballs made with pork, beef, lamb, chicken, fish and now there are vegetarian options. How they are cooked and served, with what sauces or accompaniment, varies greatly on where in the world you are. So join us on a little culinary world tour into the lovely world of meatballs by flipping through the photos in the galleries below to see a variety of meatballs from around the world and click on the links for their recipes.
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Bitterballen
A favorite snack in the Netherlands, bitterballen are small fried balls of beef ragout. The smooth textured ragout is a thick gravy made by cooking shredded beef or other meat with stock and seasonings. RECIPE HERE
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Bò Viên
Chinese culinary influence shaped these bouncy meatballs that are typically served in pho in Vietnam. The meat (typically beef, but sometimes pork or chicken) is chopped to a wet paste, then cooked into a springy ball. RECIPE HERE
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Chiftele
In Romania, they efficiently condense the traditional plate of meat and potatoes into one item with these meatballs. These fried balls mix ground pork and grated potatoes and are usually served with mustard or used to fill a hearty sandwich. RECIPE HERE
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Cig Köfte (Vegetarian)
Turkish cig köfte are delicate meatballs of high-quality, fat-free minced raw beef mixed with ground wheat, tomato paste, garlic, onion, and spices, They are shaped by hand and bear the imprints of the maker's fingers. This is a vegetarian version. RECIPE HERE
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Faggots (English meatballs)
English meatballs, called faggots, are like a compact version of liver and onions. Ground pork is mixed with organ meat, cooked in fat, roasted, and then served with an onion and stock gravy. Traditional accompaniments are mashed potatoes and peas. RECIPE HERE
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norikko - stock.adobe.com
Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs)
What’s a trip to IKEA without a stop in the café for some Swedish meatballs?! These tasty treats are typically made with a mix of pork and beef, pan-fried and coated in white gravy. To serve them in true Swedish style, the lingonberry jam on the side is a must. (And you can pick some up at IKEA.) Other traditional accompaniments are boiled potatoes and pressed cucumbers. RECIPE HERE
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Königsbeger Klopse
This Prussian version of meatballs is a German delicacy. Generally made with finely minced veal, flavored with anchovies and lemon and bound with egg and cream, the meaty morsels are simmered in stock, and served in a butter and wine based sauce. RECIPE HERE
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Keftedes
One of the most popular styles of Greek meatballs are keftedes. Made with lamb and sometimes beef, mixed with soaked bread and seasonings, then fried until crispy, they’re often served as an appetizer with tangy tzatziki. For a full meal, serve them up on flatbread or cover with tomato sauce and accompanied by rice. RECIPE HERE
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Lion's Head
These large soft meatballs made from a mix of minced fatty pork and water chestnuts hail from the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. Seasoned with ginger, rice wine, and sesame oil, lion’s head meatballs are generally cooked through stewing, braising, or simmering in soup, and sometimes are even fried or placed in casseroles. They’re almost always served with a “mane” of cabbage. RECIPE HERE
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Kefta Mkaouara
While Moroccans cook many kinds of meatballs, their most celebrated meatball dish is kefta mkaouara. Cooked in clay pot called a tajine, mkaouara is a stew of well-seasoned lamb meatballs and eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. RECIPE HERE
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Pulpety
While fried beef or pork meatballs, called klopsiki, are common in Poland, this recipe for pulpety is closer to varieties seen in neighboring Germany. These meatballs, sometimes made with veal, are gently poached in stock and then served with a variety of sauces made with staple items in the Polish pantry like mushroom, dill, and sour cream. RECIPE HERE
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Tsukune
The Japanese go for the grill to prepare their meatballs. Ground chicken, seasoned and thickened with starch, is cooked over charcoal in the yakitori style and brushed with tare, a sweet soy sauce, for a nice glaze. RECIPE HERE
While many of us think of spaghetti and meatballs as an Italian creation, surprisingly, if you cross the ocean, you’ll discover Italian meatballs, or “polpette,” are small fried meatballs often served up as street fare. The big juicy meatballs swimming in sauce over pasta that we know and love are an Italian-American creation, inspired by the love of New York immigrants for the flavors of home. You can see the differences here:
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Polpette
Compared to their American cousins, Italian meatballs are small, usually fried or baked and served without sauce as street food. Generally made of beef or veal, they often have cheese, cured meats, or other interesting ingredients. RECIPE HERE
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Traditional Italian American Meatballs
This recipe for traditional meatballs Italian-American style comes right out of the kitchen at Rao’s, one of New York’s oldest and most well-respected Italian restaurants. Served with marinara and a plate of spaghetti, this is what we call "Old World Italian" at its finest. RECIPE HERE
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Frikadeller
These small, slightly flattened and pan-fried meatballs made of minced or ground meat (usually pork.) Frikadeller are a popular dish in Denmark and territories colonized by the Danes. They're often served with potatoes and gravy, accompanied by cabbage, or on open-faced sandwiches. RECIPE HERE
And here's one more that's a super (think Super Bowl!) easy party favorite just for fun.
Party Cocktail Meatballs
This sweet and tangy Welch’s Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe is a bit of a “cheat” because it uses frozen meatballs. It made its way into our collection because they're a bit hit with kids and also a super (as in Super Bowl) easy party favorite! RECIPE HERE
So now, grab a loved one, roll up your sleeves and try your hand at these Valentine's Day romance inspired recipes. Maybe you'll just fall in love.
