Serves 4-6

This week we are back to basics with a few oldies but goodies. Who doesn’t like sweet and sour meatballs, whether served mini with toothpicks or over rice as a comfort meal, they are delicious and still so popular. This version is traditional with a little sour kick from lemon juice.

FOR THE SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE:

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 medium yellow onion, minced

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

¼ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

2 lb. ground beef chuck

2 eggs, beaten

⅓ cup long-grain white rice, parboiled for 3 minutes

1 cup bread crumbs

1 medium yellow onion, grated on the coarse side of a box grater

2¼ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Prepare the sauce: In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil, then sauté the minced onion over medium heat until tender and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, and rinse out the can with ½ cup water to loosen any sauce that remains, adding that liquid to the pan. Stir in the lemon juice and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium heat. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Make the meatballs: Put the ground meat in a large bowl and push it to one side. Add the eggs, rice, breadcrumbs, onion, salt, and pepper to the other side of the bowl and combine with a large fork. Work in the meat, handful by handful, until everything is thoroughly blended. Return the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Using a ¼ cup scoop (depending on your preference, I like them smaller but feel free to make them bigger or smaller as you like) shape meatballs measuring about 1½” and drop them gently into the sauce. Cover and simmer slowly for 25 minutes (30 minutes for larger and less time for mini meatballs), gently rotating and pushing the meatballs around halfway through the cooking so that they are thoroughly coated in sauce after about 15 minutes. Correct seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve very hot.

By Emuna Braverman and Elizabeth Kurtz, of www.gourmetkoshercooking.com

www.gourmetkoshercooking.com is a new and exciting site where you will find over 900 great kosher recipes – with particular emphasis on ideas for Shabbos and holidays, the best new kosher products, gorgeous table top decor, articles on kosher wine and healthy eating, featured giveaways, travel, cooking with kids and much more. Content is updated weekly so visit us often. Your family will be glad you did!