Chipotle Meatballs
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 2:00PM After watching Rick Bayless win Top Chef Masters a couple of years ago we thought it would be fun to try out some of his creations and picked up his Mexican Everyday cookbook. Our first test was his Chipotle Meatballs and they were an excellent recipe to add to our normal mix. A very easy and tasty way to change up the typical meatballs and give them a distinct Mexican flavor. We made rice and black beans to go alongside.
Chipotle Meatballs
From Rick Bayless
3 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
Kosher Salt
1 lb ground pork or beef
1/4 cup mint leaves
One 28 oz can diced tomatoes in juice
1 or 2 canned chipotle chiles en adobe
1 or 2 tsp chipotle canning sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup chicken or beef broth
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a food processor combine the bacon, 1 garlic clove and process until finely chopped. Add the eggs, bread crumbs and 1 tsp salt. Pulse several times to combine, then add the meat and mint. Pulse a few more times until everything is well combined but not a paste.
With wet hands, form the meat into 15 plum-size balls, spacing them out evenly in 3 by 5 rows in a 13x9 baking dish. Bake until browned, about 15 min.
While the meatballs are cooking, clean the food processor then combine the tomatoes with their juice, chipotles, canning sauce, oregano, 2 garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp salt. Blend for a min or so until combined.
When the meatballs are done, add the tomato mixture and bake for another 15 min. Microwave the broth about a minute or so, then add to the sauce and mix by hand. Serve immedately.
All in all a great recipe, and very easy to make on a week night, as the total cook and prep time is about 45 min. We did reduce the chiles to 1 and found there was still plenty of heat to give it a nice spicy taste. Also, reducing the amount of broth gives the sauce a more soup consistency instead of a more liquidy one.
Enjoy!
-Dan
Reader Comments (4)
Oh this looks great, I am bookmarking for my Fancy:)
Should I cook the bacon first before cutting and adding to the food processor?
Jennifer, you put the bacon in the food processor raw so it mixes right into the meatball.
Thank you!!! I am going to try these this Sunday. They sound delicious.