Hello Fresh Firecracker Meatballs (Printable)
Spicy firecracker meatballs glazed in sweet-heat sauce, with jasmine rice and crisp sautéed vegetables.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1.1 pounds ground beef or pork, or a combination
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
04 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
05 - 2 scallions, finely sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon grated ginger
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Firecracker Sauce
09 - 3 tablespoons sriracha sauce, or to preference
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
→ Rice and Vegetables
15 - 1.25 cups jasmine rice
16 - 2 cups water
17 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
18 - 1 large carrot, julienned
19 - 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
20 - 3.5 ounces green beans, trimmed and halved
21 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
22 - Additional sliced scallions, for garnish
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 430°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, gently combine ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, scallions, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper until just homogenous. Shape mixture into 16 to 20 evenly-sized meatballs and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake meatballs for 18 to 20 minutes, turning once halfway, until browned and fully cooked through.
04 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Combine rice and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat, leave covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
05 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sriracha, mayonnaise, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the mixture is smooth. Reserve for glazing and serving.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrot, bell pepper, and green beans, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until tender-crisp. Season lightly with salt.
07 - Once meatballs are cooked, gently toss them in approximately two-thirds of the prepared firecracker sauce until evenly coated.
08 - Serve glazed meatballs over jasmine rice with sautéed vegetables arranged alongside. Drizzle with remaining sauce and garnish with sesame seeds and extra sliced scallions as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The firecracker sauce is so addictive, you'll want to drizzle it on everything.
- These meatballs are just the right balance of juicy, spicy, and sweet—they turned even my veggie-averse friend into a fan.
02 -
- Once I got distracted and overmixed the meatball mixture—they turned out dense and a little rubbery, so stop mixing as soon as things look combined.
- Sautéing the veggies on high heat for just a few minutes keeps them brilliantly colorful instead of sad and limp.
03 -
- Lightly oil your hands when rolling the meatballs so the mix doesn't stick and you get smooth, even rounds every time.
- Lining the oven tray with parchment keeps cleanup blissfully simple.