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Test Kitchen Approved

Plum Good Meatballs

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

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About

Plum good? More like plum great or plum amazing! Plum Good Meatballs braises beefy, savory meatballs in a sauce unlike any other: the rich, deep fruit flavor of plums, the sweetness and spiciness of chili sauce, and the meatiness of beef bouillon meld into a luscious mixture that contrasts and elevates the meatball flavor into the stratosphere. Plum Good Meatballs can be piled on potatoes, escorted alongside egg noodles, or just eaten on their own with toothpicks and wide grins. You won't need to worry about leftovers with these.

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1 cup soft breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1/2 pound ground veal
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
  • 1/2 cup water, boiling
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup plum jam
  • 1/2 cup chili sauce
  • green onions, optional, to taste, sliced, for garnish

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 3 -In a large bowl, pour the milk over the breadcrumbs.

Step 4 -Let the breadcrumbs stand for 10 minutes.

Step 5 -Add the egg, the Worcestershire sauce, the onion, the salt, the pepper, and the cloves.

Step 6 -Crumble the beef, the pork, and the veal over the onion mixture and mix gently but thoroughly.

Step 7 -Shape the meat mixture into 1-inch balls.

Step 8 -In a large skillet, add the oil over medium heat.

Step 9 -Once the oil is shimmering, brown the meatballs in batches, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Step 10 -Drain the meatballs on paper towels. Do not drain or clean the skillet.

Step 11 -Place the meatballs in the prepared baking dish.

Step 12 -In a small bowl, dissolve the bouillon granules in the boiling water.

Step 13 -Stir the flour into the pan drippings in the skillet until blended.

Step 14 -Add the bouillon mixture, the plum jam, and the chili sauce, stirring until combined.

Step 15 -Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.

Step 16 -Cook and stir until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 17 -Pour the sauce over the meatballs.

Step 18 -Cover and bake the meatballs until the sauce is bubbly, the meat is no longer pink, and it is cooked through at 145 degrees F internally, about 30-45 minutes.

Step 19 -Serve hot garnished with the green onions.

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