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Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Today is one of those few days where you could rely on me – that my brain is not that scattered. Or do you like a co-host with scattered brain? 😀 Yep! I am co-hosting today with Indu @ Indu’s International Kitchen. I know many of you have already added Indu in their circle, but if you haven’t, you must do so as she is such an amazing person. She shares so many delicious dishes and did I say she’s doing international? 😀 Anyway, I am so much happy to be co-hosting with her today. Let’s party, people. 😀 (And thanks, Angie, for this opportunity again.) <3

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I am a girl who changes her mind most of the time. Here are some instances:

#1: I was in a grocery store with my friend. She knows that I always have a list and instant fried noodles is always included. When she noticed me pass by the noodles, she asked me if I’d not take it. I said ‘No, I still have at home.’ She knows me really well so she asked me again if I am sure and I confidently said yes. And because I want to roam around more, we separated and decided to meet at the counter. Guess what? She saw the cart with the instant fried noodles, and told me ‘I thought you don’t like to take that.’ And I said, ‘Well, you know me – I don’t want to run out of these.’ And I gave her a big grin. 😀

#2: On the mall, I was with the same friend and she knew that I want to eat so many things that day – donuts, fries, burger, and nuggets, and pizza… all fast foods. We were planning to eat, but on a later time. So she asked me: ‘Do you want donuts? Do you want fries? Do you want pizza?’ But I said ‘No’ to all of her offers. Well, I wanted to pretend that I am shy. 😛 (What?? Why are you looking at me like that? We have to honest here and you know me. 😀 ) Okay, back to the scene – we were walking and I saw my new favorite (Cinnabon) and I immediately stopped walking and grabbed her arm (for her to stop as well and she was like ‘what?’) I shook her arm and I told her ‘Ask me again what I want. Ask me. Ask me.’ And of course, she bought me those cinnamon rolls. 😀

And there are many more in my daily life. 😛 I get my mind changed every time – like if I want to bake during the weekend or no… and I decided not to bake and then I find myself baking on that weekend.

The same thing happened to this dish I am bringing now – I thought about this many times if I will make this on the weekend. The reason is I wanted to use the remaining ingredients I have from the previous dish I made earlier (bell peppers, pineapple). I decided to use them on something else on a later day because I felt lazy on that day. The ending is, well, you find me in the kitchen preparing this dish.  And even while cooking, I am still arguing with myself if I will use some of the beef mixture for burger patties. But this time, I didn’t. Honest. 😀

Sweet & Sour Meatballs is perfect for a person like me who loves sweet & sour dishes and Asian/Chinese cuisine.

I used to prepare this dish using a sweet & sour instant mix because when I try not to and do the traditional thing, I always get too sour or too sweet – I could not really balance it. I am thrilled that I found a recipe that will make me say goodbye to the instant mix.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons cooking oil

For the meatballs: 

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup crushed cornflakes or breadcrumbs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup onion, minced

For the sauce:

  • 1 tbsp garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • ⅓ cup vinegar
  • 1 cup red and green bell pepper
  • 1 medium sized onion, quartered
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup carrot, sliced
  • Cornstarch slurry: 1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 3 tbsp water

Instructions:

For the meatballs: 

  1. In a bowl, mix all ingredients until everything is incorporated.
  2. Scoop out about 1 tbsp of the mixture and form them into balls.
  3. In a deep non-stick skillet with medium-high heat, add in 6 tbsp of oil.
  4. When the oil is hot enough, fry the meatballs until brown.
  5. Removed cooked meatballs and transfer to a serving dish. Set aside.

For the sauce: 

  1. In the same skillet with medium heat, add in remaining oil if needed.
  2. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant.
  3. Add in quartered onion, carrots and bell peppers. Cook for about 2 minutes.
  4. Add pineapple chunks and cook for another minute.
  5. Add in ketchup, sugar and vinegar. Give it a good mix.
  6. Pour in water and let it boil for about 2 minutes.
  7. Add the cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce has thicken.
  8. Turn off the heat and pour in the sauce over the cooked meatballs.

Source recipe: Panlasang Pinoy

care for a closer look?

This dish is not overly sweet nor sour – I really love how dish satisfied my taste buds. I hope you try this and let me know what you think. 😉

Enjoy the party, people! Happy FF #47!

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