Best Favorite Meatball Stew Recipes

HEARTY MEATBALL STEW

Hearty Meatball Stew image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

1 slice white sandwich bread, torn into small pieces
8 ounces 20-percent-fat ground beef (about 8 ounces)
2 sweet mild Italian sausages, casings removed
One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 egg
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound large white mushrooms, quartered
One 8 to 10-ounce russet potato, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1/3-inch slices
4 ounces green beans, trimmed, cut into 1-inch-long pieces

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.

CAJUN MEATBALL STEW

CAJUN MEATBALL STEW image

This is a very popular recipe in the Cajun part of South Louisiana, which is frequently referred to as "Acadiana." If there's one thing we folks in Acadiana love, it's our rice and gravy! I have often said that when I die, if wherever I end up doesn't have rice and gravy, I'll know I didn't make it to Heaven. Cajun Meatball Stew starts off with your typical dark brown roux. Some people prefer to buy it in stores, ready made. I've never understood why, because it's not that difficult to make from scratch. The main thing you must do is stir, constantly, over a medium high heat, never leaving the stove until it's almost the color of chocolate syrup. If you burn it, throw it out and start over, because it will give your gravy a very bitter taste. When I have the time, I prefer to make this the day ahead, separate the meatballs from the gravy, and refrigerate. Not only does this cause the fat from the meat to rise to the top and harden for easy removal, but, enhances the flavor.

Provided by Irishcolleen

Categories Meat

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups bell peppers, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
water or beef broth
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 lbs ground chuck
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
salt and cayenne pepper
1/4 cup green onion, chopped

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!