Recipe: Tasty Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine Meatballs. Porcupine meatballs have been a family staple since the Great Depression (and even before that!). They're called porcupine meatballs because the rice pokes out of the meat while they're cooking, resembling the spiky animal. What goes well with this recipe?

They are so-named because once cooked the rice sticks out of the meatball looking a bit like porcupine quills. Porcupine Meatballs are similar to a classic meatball recipe, only with rice added to the meat mixture before cooking. When the rice sticks out, these meatballs resemble a little 'porcupine'. You can have Porcupine Meatballs using 13 ingredients and 5 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Porcupine Meatballs

1. It's 1 lb of ground beef.
2. You need 1 lb of italian sausage, taken out of casing.
3. Prepare 2/3 cup of basmati rice.
4. You need 1/2 cup of soy milk (or milk of your choice).
5. Prepare 1 of egg, beaten (or equivalent of egg substitute).
6. Prepare 1 tbsp of salt, divided.
7. Prepare 2 tsp of chili powder, divided.
8. You need 2 tbsp of vegetable oil.
9. Prepare 28 oz of canned crushed tomatoes.
10. Prepare 2 1/2 cups of water.
11. It's 1/4 tsp of garlic powder.
12. It's 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper.
13. It's of hot cooked rice, optional.

I personally love the texture that the rice gives these meatballs. It makes them so soft, tender and juicy all the way through! Porcupine Meatball Bowl - add mashed potatoes to a bowl, swirl on some sauce, add a few meatballs and a drizzle of more sauce. Serve with garlic bread or cheesy bread Serve on a Charcuterie board - Make smaller meatballs and serve on a charcuterie board with a side of sauce, garlic toast, and cheese bread.

Porcupine Meatballs instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef & ground pork, mix well. Add rice, milk, egg, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp chili powder, & mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls..
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook the meatballs in batches in the hot oil until browned on all sides. Drain by putting them on paper towels on a plate..
3. In a large saucepan, combine tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp chili powder, water, garlic powder, & cayenne pepper. Mix well. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low..
4. Add meatballs to tomato mixture & mix well. Cover. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour..
5. Serve over hot cooked rice, if desired..

Porcupine Meatballs are hearty and well-seasoned meatballs with rice that simmer in a rich tomato sauce. This is a family recipe passed down from my grandma and I know that your family will love it too! Another great way of making these famous porcupine meatballs is in the slow cooker recipe. DIRECTIONS Combine ground beef, rice, milk, minced onion, salt and pepper in bowl. Porcupine Meatballs originated during the Great Depression, when rice was affordable and readily available, but meat was pricey.