Vera's Meatballs

I just realized most of the viewers of my blog are not Koreans, and thought probably it will be interesting for them to read about Korean foods.

The following meatball recipe is made with the ingredients that are commonly used in Korean beef recipes. I use tofu to give soft/moist texture to the meatball (vs. usual meatball uses bread crumbs for that purpose), and I use dried pyogo mushrooms (known as shiitake mushrooms in US) to add textures and flavors. And, last but not the least, lots of chopped garlics, chives and onions.

So... I'd like to call the meatballs as "Vera's meatballs".

You can enjoy these meatballs as-is, or add them to simple pasta, or make skewers with some other vegetables.


Vera's Meatballs
Meatballs with Korean flavors

(Yield: 20-25 meatballs / Cooking time: 45 minutes*)
*excluding the hydrating time for dried pyogo mushroom.

Ingredients:
+ half pound lean ground beef
+ half pound ground pork
+ 7oz tofu (half of regular tofu package)
+ three dried pyogo mushrooms (= shiitake mushrooms)
+ 3-5 garlic cloves
+ half onion
+ a small bunch of chives
+ 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
+ 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
+ 1 tsp sesame oil
+ Salt and pepper for seasoning

Procedures:
1. Dried pyogo mushrooms have to be hydrated first, which will take about one hour. Deep the dried pyogo in a bowl of cold water and let them be hydrated for an hour.

2. Preheat your oven at 350°F (177°C).

3. While the oven is heated, we are going to prepare the ingredients.
+ Onion: Chop in brunoise
+ Garlics: Mince very finely
+ Chives: Chop in small pieces
+ Sesame seeds: If you cannot find toasted ones, toasted in a dry heated pan. Toast until you can smell nutty aroma.
+ Hydrated pyogo: Squeeze out excess water and chop in brunoise
+ Tofu: With cheese clothes, squeeze out excess water


Before preparation


After preparation


4. Mix all prepared ingredients to ground meat (half beef and half pork). Add soy sauce and sesame oils.


5. Season with salt and pepper. You shouldn't eat raw pork meat. The best way to check the seasoning is to take about a teaspoon full of meat after you mix your meat well with salt and pepper, and cook it in a hot pan and check the seasoning. If your meat needs more seasoning, add more salt - be careful not to over season, because you need to run to stores to buy more meat to adjust the seasoning when you over salt the meat mixture!

6. Place a parchment paper over your sheet pan, and roll bite size meat balls and line them. You can get about 20-25 meat balls from this recipe. (I got 22!).


7. Bake meatballs in preheated oven (350°F (177°C)) for 15 minutes, or until cooked with light brown color at outside.



Enjoy Vera's meatballs!