Beet meatballs
Do you like beetroot? I love it any way – fresh, cooked, canned (yes, I know), in burgers, in cakes, in soup, in salads. And after being inspired to create this recipe by Nigel Slater, I now also love it in meatballs.
Sure, beetroot can be a pain in the arse because it stains almost everything, but they’re also rich in vitamins, carbs and proteins. They do have a very high sugar content – about 10% of a beetroot is sugar – but fortunately it’s released slowly into the body.
Now apparently the Romans used beetroot as an aphrodisiac and The Lupanare, (the offical brothel of Pompeii), has pictures of beetroots on its walls (alongside other interesting pictures… hehee). And since we’re on the topic of brothels, a euphemism that was used in the 20th century for visiting prosties is to “take favours in beetroot fields”.
Wow, this post went straight down to the gutter. That was a surprise! I’m now a bit scared of the search terms that will lead people to my site…
But back to beets, meats and balls (whoops – there’s the gutter again). I made these meatballs after flicking through a Nigel Slater book. I didn’t follow his recipe, but just used it as an inspiration. The meatballs are made from a mixture of shredded beetroot, pork and beef mince, fresh coriander, salt and pepper – and that was it! And they were GREAT – very, very moreish, and I loved that the sweetness of the beetroot complemented the meatiness. And at times I thought they tasted a lot like char sui with the whole sweet/pork thing.
Next time I make them, I’m going to add some chilli. I think they’ll be even better a bit spicy, though I do tend to think that about most foods.
What’s your favourite way to eat beetroot? And err – what do you reckon about the whole aphrodisiac thing? 😀
Ingredients
- 400g raw beetroot, peeled and shredded/grated
- 350g beef mince
- 250g pork mince
- Small bunch (40g) fresh coriander, washed and finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt (You need at least this amount because of the beetroot’s sweetness)
- Plenty of pepper
- Chilli to taste (if desired)
Instructions
- In a big bowl, mix together the shredded beetroot, beef mince, pork mince, coriander, salt, pepper and chilli (if using).
- With wet hands, take a tablespoon of the mince mixture and roll into balls / flat discs. Continue until all the mince is rolled up. Let them sit for about an hour so they’ll bind and not fall apart when you cook them.
- Heat a frying pan on medium-high heat and add a splash of oil. When the pan is hot, cook the meatballs for several minutes on each side, or until fully cooked.
- Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Inspired by Nigel Slater’s Tender V1
Celeste @ Berrytravels
November 18, 2011 @ 5:57 pm
Ahhh this sounds yum!!
Agnes
November 18, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
They’re fantastic! I’m definitely going to make them again 😀
Hannah
November 18, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
Looks fabulous! This reminds me that I once made up a beetroot quinoa risotto recipe for something that fell through, and never ended up posting it for some reason. There was definitely chilli involved 😛 I adore beetroot, but gosh, do you really have to worry about the sugar content of vegetables? 🙁
Agnes
November 18, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
Hah, no of course not. I just thought it was interesting. 🙂
msihua
November 19, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
OH MY! Great BALLS of Fire!!!! (Gutter for me!).. I’m going to so do this next week with lamb mince… YUM!
Agnes
November 21, 2011 @ 9:30 pm
Oh we could make so many balls jokes… 😀
Miss Adriennely
November 20, 2011 @ 12:54 am
They look absolutely delicious!
Agnes
November 21, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
They tasted really good too 😀 I was very pleased with them!
Amanda
November 22, 2011 @ 11:39 am
Mmm this recipe looks so delicious! I love the addition of the beats! Please check out my recipe for pan seared steak with mushroom pan sauce… I think you’ll really enjoy it!
Thanks!
Agnes
November 27, 2011 @ 10:54 am
Thanks 🙂
Annette
November 24, 2011 @ 9:28 am
Aah –this looks really good, and you get wonderful beetroot at the Nelson market –so we will definitely make this one.
Agnes
November 27, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Enjoy! 😀
Thanh
November 24, 2011 @ 10:16 pm
Well it looks like I need to do an oyster and beetroot night and invite all the lay-deeeeezzzz.
Agnes
November 27, 2011 @ 10:56 am
Hahahahaha oh goodness… please don’t invite me.
Gerry @Foodness Gracious
November 29, 2011 @ 5:00 pm
I love beets and this recipe sounds truly a winner, could you use golden beets also?