Hello Fresh Firecracker Meatballs (Printable)
Spicy glazed meatballs in a fiery-sweet sauce, paired with jasmine rice and crisp sautéed vegetables.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1.1 pounds ground beef or pork (or a blend)
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 scallions, finely sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Firecracker Sauce
09 - 3 tablespoons sriracha, or to taste
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
→ Rice & 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)
22 - Extra sliced scallions, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 430°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef or pork, egg, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, scallions, soy sauce, grated ginger, salt, and black pepper. Mix until ingredients are just incorporated.
03 - Portion mixture into 16 to 20 equal-sized balls. Arrange evenly on prepared baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown and fully cooked.
04 - Place rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water until clear. Add rinsed rice and measured water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together sriracha, mayonnaise, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until smooth and homogeneous. Set aside.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add julienned carrot, bell pepper, and green beans. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender. Lightly season with salt.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs to a large bowl and gently toss with two-thirds of the firecracker sauce until evenly coated.
08 - Serve glazed meatballs over jasmine rice, accompanied by sautéed vegetables. Drizzle with remaining sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds and extra scallions.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This sauce is the kind of fiery-sweet heat that makes you want to swipe your plate clean when nobody&39;s looking.
- Each step is simple, giving you restaurant-level flavor without breaking a sweat or the bank.
02 -
- Shaping meatballs tightly makes them dense—keep a gentle touch and slightly wet hands for lightness.
- Skipping the step of rinsing rice creates stickiness instead of perfect fluffy grains, so never skip it.
03 -
- Letting the meat mixture rest for ten minutes gives breadcrumbs time to hydrate, keeping meatballs tender.
- A squeeze of fresh lime over everything at the end cuts through the richness and lifts the dish.