Sweet and Savory Meatballs

I really love the traditional Italian meatball with a good red sauce and spaghetti.  But this meatball is good too!  It is totally different from the Italian meatball and is normally eaten with rice as opposed to pasta.  I personally like it over rice pilaf.  The sauce is sweet and savory at the same time (hence the name) and it is really easy to make.  The ingredient list may make you pause – grape jelly in your sauce?  I was skeptical too!  I promise that you do not even know it is in there.  I just ask that you try it and see what you think. You will not be sorry 🙂

This is a great Passover dish because you can easily substitute the bread crumbs for matzo meal.  The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a lot of guests.  Even if you are making this for two or three people I suggest making the whole batch as leftovers are delicious!

Prep Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time:  45 minutes
Yield:  4 – 6 servings

Sauce:
Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil in a Misto (preferable)
1 small onion, finely diced
1 can tomato sauce (8oz), plus 1 can of water (use tomato sauce can)
1 small can tomato paste
1/3 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of grape jelly
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Meatballs:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 egg
1 tablespoon of sugar
3- 4 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs, can substitute matzo meal
Pinch of allspice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Coat a heavy bottomed, medium sized pot with cooking spray (or oil in a Mist0) and sauté the onion over medium heat until softened, about 3-5 minutes.  Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and stir until the tomato paste and grape jelly are completely melted into the sauce.  Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.   Bring sauce to boil and reduce to simmer.

Mix meatball ingredients in a large bowl until just mixed through.  Roll meat into balls and add to sauce.  Bring meatballs and sauce to a low simmer and cook 45 minutes, covered shaking the pot often to prevent sticking.