Meatballs & Spaghetti

A meatball is ground meat rolled into a ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, minced onion, eggs, butter, and seasoning. Meatballs are cooked by frying, baking, steaming, or braising in sauce. There are many types of meatballs using different types of meats and spices. The term is sometimes extended to meatless versions based on vegetables or fish; the latter are also commonly known as fishballs.

History

The ancient Roman cookbook ''Apicius'' included many meatball-type recipes.

Early recipes included in some of the earliest known Persian cookbooks generally feature seasoned lamb rolled into orange-sized balls and glazed with egg yolk and sometimes saffron. This method was taken to the West and is referred to as gilding. Many regional variations exist, including the unusually large ''kufte Tabrīzī'' from Iran's northwestern region, with an average diameter of .

''Poume d'oranges'' is a gilded meatball dish from the Middle Ages.

By region

Various recipes of meatballs can be found across Europe and Asia. From Iberia and Sweden to the Indian subcontinent, there is a large variety of meatballs in the kofta family.

Europe

* Albanian fried meatballs (''qofte të fërguara'') include feta cheese.
*In Austria, fried meatballs are called ''Fleischlaibchen'' or ''Fleischlaiberl''.
*In Belgium, meatballs are called ''ballekes'' or ''bouletten'' in Flanders and are usually made of a mixture of beef and pork with bread crumbs and sliced onions. Many other variations exist, including different kinds of meat and chopped vegetables. They are often served in tomato sauce or with sour cherry sauce.
*In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, meatballs are called ''ćufte'' (from the Turkish word ''köfte'') and are typically made from ground beef and served with mashed potatoes.
*In Britain, faggots are a type of spicy pork meatball. A faggot is traditionally made from pig's heart, liver and a fatty cut of pork (pork belly or back bacon) minced together, with herbs added for flavoring, and sometimes bread crumbs.
*In Bulgaria, meatballs are called ''kyufte'' (from the Turkish word ''köfte'') and are typically made from ground beef or pork, or a mix of the two. They can be shallow fried or grilled and often contain diced onions and soaked bread. They are a very popular dish.
*In Croatia, meatballs are called ''polpete'' in the Dalmatian region or ''faširani šnicli'' (''faširanci'') or ''ćufte'' in the continental part. They are typically made with ground beef or a mixture of pork and beef and served with mashed potatoes or rice, often with tomato based sauce.
*Danish meatballs are known as ''frikadeller'' and are typically fried. They are usually made out of ground pork, veal, onions, eggs, salt, and pepper; these are formed into balls and flattened somewhat, so they are pan ready. However, the Danish cuisine also includes other versions, such as ''boller i karry'' (meatballs in curry sauce, typically served with rice), and the smaller meatballs used in soup with ''melboller'' (Danish dumplings).
*In Estonia, meatballs are called ''lihapallid'' (literally "meatballs") and are similar to those of Finnish or Swedish cuisine.
*In Finland, meatballs are called ''lihapullat'' (literally "meatbuns"). They are made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork, or even with ground reindeer or elk meat, mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk or viili, beef stock and finely chopped onions or alternatively, French onion soup readymix. They are seasoned with white pepper and salt. Meatballs are traditionally served with gravy or brown sauce, boiled potatoes (or mashed potatoes), lingonberry jam, and sometimes pickled cucumber or pickled beetroot.
*In France, meatballs are known as ''boulettes de viandes'' or (in Northern France) ''fricadelles''. In Alsace, meatballs are known as ''Fleischkiechele''. They are made of beef, pork, onions, bacon, eggs, and bread. They are served plain or with cream sauce.
*In Germany, meatballs are mostly known as ''Frikadelle'', ''Fleischküchle'', ''Fleischpflanzerl'', ''Bulette'' or ''Klopse''. A very famous variant of meatballs are ''Königsberger Klopse'', which contain anchovy or salted herring, and are eaten with caper sauce.
*In Greece, fried meatballs are called ''keftédes'' (κεφτέδες) (from the Turkish word ''köfte'') and usually include within the mix of bread, onions, parsley and mint leaf. Stewed meatballs are called ''yuvarlákia'' (γιουβαρλάκια: (from the Turkish word ''yuvarlak'', which means "round") and usually include small quantities of rice.
*In Hungary, as well as territories from neighbouring countries where Hungarian is spoken, a meatball is called ''vagdalt'' or ''fasírt'' or ''fasírozott'' probably coming from Austrian German ''faschierte Laibchen''. It is a mixture of minced pork, minced onions, garlic, paprika, salt and breadcrumbs, deep fried in oil or pork fat and eaten with potatoes or főzelék. Also, the ''májgombóc'' (liver dumpling) is popular in soups.
*In Italy, meatballs (called ''polpette'' , sing. ''polpetta'') are generally eaten either as a main course or in soup. The main ingredients of an Italian meatball are beef and/or pork and sometimes poultry or sausage, salt, black pepper, chopped garlic, olive oil, Romano cheese, eggs, bread crumbs, and parsley, mixed and rolled by hand to a golf ball size. In the Abruzzo region of Italy, especially in the Province of Teramo, the meatballs are typically the size of marbles and are called ''polpettine'' .
*In the Netherlands, meatballs are called ''gehaktbal'', and are often served with boiled potatoes and vegetables. They are usually made out of mixed beef and pork minced meat, eggs, onion and bread crumbs.
*In Norway, meatballs are called ''kjøttkaker'' (lit. "meatcakes"). They are often served with brown sauce, kålstuing (cabbage in cream sauce), tyttebærsyltetøy (lingonberry jam) and potatoes. Kjøttkaker are similar to kjøttboller, except in form. Kjøttboller are round, like the typical meatball, whereas kjøttkaker or meat cakes are in a patty form, flattened out and a bit oval in shape.
*In Poland, they are called ''pulpety'' (singular ''pulpet'', from the Italian name) or ''klopsy'' (singular ''klops'', from German ''Klopse''), and ''pulpeciki'' ("little ''pulpety''"), and are usually served cooked with a variety of sauces (such as tomato or a kind of gravy thickened with flour, as well as forest mushroom sauce) with potatoes, rice or all sorts of ''kasza''. ''Pulpety'' or ''klopsy'' are usually made from seasoned ground meat with onion and mixed with eggs and either breadcrumbs or wheat rolls soaked in milk or water. Fried ''pulpety'' are larger than typical cooked ones. They can be round or flat in shape. The latter, in many countries, would be considered a cross between a meatball and a hamburger. The fried variety is called ''mielony'' (short for ''kotlet mielony'', literally "minced cutlet"), and its mass-produced version (as well as the one served in bars, etc.) is the subject of many jokes and urban legends about what is used to produce it.
*In Portugal, meatballs are called ''almôndegas'' . These are usually served with a spicy tomato sauce and rice or sometimes pasta.
*In Romania and Moldova, there are two types of meatballs called ''chiftele'' (from the Turkish word ''köfte'') and ''pârjoale'', and are usually deep fried and made with pork or poultry, moistened mashed potatoes and spices. ''Chiftele'' are flat and round and contain more meat. A variant mixing rice inside the meatball is used for sour soup, making ''ciorbă de perişoare''.
*In Russia, they are called ''kotlety'' ( rus, котлеты) in flat forms or ''tefteli'' ( rus, тефтели) in ball forms. They can be made with chicken, pork, beef or fish. Tefteli have rice, potatoes and other vegetables mixed in as well. ''Kotlety'' are only made with meat and spices. They can be served with a side of mashed potatoes or noodles, or in a sauce.
*In Slovenia, they are called ''polpeti''. They are typically made with ground beef or a mixture of pork and beef and served with mashed potatoes, with tomato-based sauce.
*In Spain and Hispanic America, meatballs are called ''albóndigas'', derived from the Arabic ''al-bunduq'' (meaning hazelnut, or, by extension, a small round object). ''Albóndigas'' are thought to have originated as a Berber or Arab dish imported to Spain during the period of Muslim rule. Spanish ''albóndigas'' can be served as an appetizer or main course, often in a tomato sauce. Mexican ''albóndigas'' are commonly served in a soup with a light broth and vegetables.
*In Sweden, meatballs are called ''köttbullar'' (literally "meat buns"). They are usually made with a mix of ground beef and ground pork, or just with ground beef, which is mixed into a mixture of beaten eggs, breadcrumbs soaked in milk, and grated raw onions or finely chopped and fried onions. Cream is often added for more luxurious versions. The meatball mixture is seasoned with salt and white pepper or a mixture of white pepper and allspice.Widenfelt, Sam ''Swedish Food'', Gothenburg, Sweden Esselte 1956. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled or mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and sometimes pickled cucumber. Traditionally, they are small, around in diameter, though larger meatballs are often served at restaurants. In 2018, Sweden's official national Twitter account claimed that Swedish meatballs are based on a Turkish recipe, brought back to Sweden by King Charles XII in 1714, after his five year semi-imprisonment in the Ottoman Empire, which caused comments around the world. However, a food and culture expert at Stockholm University claimed that there was no evidence behind this and that the meatballs likely originated in France or Italy instead. This caused the original tweeter, Sweden.se, to backtrack a few days later.
*In Turkey, meatballs are called ''köfte'' and are extremely popular; there are many different versions with a variety of shapes – not necessarily round. Meatballs in Turkey are usually made with ground lamb or a mix of ground beef and lamb. Variants are mostly named after their traditional cities; such as İnegöl köfte, İzmir köfte, Akçaabat köfte and Tire köfte. Some of the other popular ones are şiş köfte, kadınbudu köfte and sulu köfte. There is also a variant called Çiğ köfte that can be vegan.
*In Ukraine, they are called ''kotleta'' ( ua, котлета) when fried and ''frykadelka'' ( ua, фрикаделька) when boiled in soup.

Americas

Most meatball recipes found in the Americas are derived from European cuisine influences, notably Italian, Sicily, Iberian (Portuguese-Spanish), and Nordic (Swedish) cuisines.
*In Brazil, meatballs are called ''almôndegas'', derived from Italian influences. These are usually served with tomato sauce and pasta.
*In the Canadian province of Quebec, meatballs are the main component of a traditional dish called ''ragoût de boulettes'' (meatball stew). The meatballs are made with ground pork, onions, spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and are simmered in a gravy thickened with toasted flour. The dish is normally served with boiled or mashed potatoes and pickled beets. It is so popular that a factory-processed version of the dish is available canned in most supermarkets throughout the province.
*In Mexico, ''albóndigas'' are commonly served with a light broth and vegetables, or with a mild chipotle sauce.
*In Puerto Rico, they are called ''albóndigas'' and have a strong Italian influence. Puerto Ricans living in New York City brought the recipe back to Puerto Rico, because many Puerto Ricans in New York City lived side by side with Italians. The meatballs are usually seasoned with ''sofrito'', olives, capers, cheese, egg, breadcrums, parsley, carrots, mint, ''adobo'', ''sazon'' (annatto, paprika, cumin, and coriander seeds), almonds, and coffee. It is typically eaten in a sandwich with melted cheese on top or stewed in tomato sauce, or with rice, in a dinner called ''Arroz con albondigas'' (rice with meatballs)
*In the United States, meatballs are commonly derived from European cuisines. They are usually served with spaghetti, on pizza, or on a sub (i.e., spaghetti and meatballs, meatball pizza, and meatball sandwiches). In the Southern United States, venison or beef is also often mixed with spices and baked into large meatballs that can be served as an entrée. Another variation, "porcupine meatballs", consists of basic meatballs often with rice in them. Several varieties of meatball pizza exist, such as Tex Mex and Greek-style lamb sweet-and-sour. The meatballs on meatball pizzas may be sliced to reduce their size, sliced in half, or broken up and spread out across the pizza.

Middle East and South Asia

''Kofta'' is a type of meatball or dumpling that is widely distributed in Middle Eastern, South Asian, Mediterranean and Balkan (Central and Eastern Europe) cuisines. The word ''kofta'' is derived from Persian ''kūfta'': In Persian, کوفتن (kuftan) means "to beat" or "to grind" or 'meatball'. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls or fingers of minced or ground meat – usually beef or lamb – mixed with spices and/or onions and other ingredients. The vegetarian variety is popular in India. They can be grilled, fried, steamed, poached, baked or marinated, and may be served with a rich spicy sauce.
*In Afghanistan, meatballs are used as a traditional dish with homemade soups or are made with a tomato-based sauce that may include some plum seeds to increase tartness and is served with bread or rice which is called ''Kofta-Chelou''. Nowadays meatballs are also grilled on top of pizza.
*Armenian stewed meatballs/meatball and vegetable stew (''kufte rize'') is a classic dish often poured over rice for consumption.
*In Iran, several types of meatballs are consumed. If they are cooked in a stew, they are called ''kufteh.'' If they are fried (typically small meatballs), they are called ''kal-e gonjeshki'' (literally " sparrow's head"). Both types are consumed with either bread or rice. Typically, herbs are added, and for ''kufteh'', usually the meatball is filled with hard boiled eggs or dried fruits. There are several (at least 10) types; the most famous is "kufte Tabrīzī", traditionally from Tabriz in northwestern Iran.
*In Israel, meatballs are called ktzitzot basar ( he, קציצות בשר), or sometimes simply ktzitzot ( he, קציצות). Their exact ingredients and preparation vary widely, due to the influence of Jewish immigration from different regions. They are typically made of spiced ground beef, though turkey and chicken versions are also available, and in their common form, they are shaped as slightly flattened balls, pan fried and then cooked in tomato sauce or broth. Other variations also exist, including the gondi, which were brought by the Persian Jews, the albondigas of the Sephardic cuisine, and the kufta that is customary with some Mizrahi Jews.
*Meatballs are popular in South Asian cuisine. In India, vegetarian versions of koftas are made with paneer, potato, bottle gourd, raw banana or other vegetables. South Asian meatballs are normally cooked in a spicy curry. In Pakistan, they are cooked in a gravy called ''chorba.'' Sometimes whole pre-boiled eggs are added, and sometimes the eggs are encased in a layer of the kofta meat to make something resembling a Scotch egg. These kofta dishes are very popular with Indian diaspora and are available in many Indian restaurants.
*In Syria, meatballs are prepared in numerous ways. They are grilled on charcoal with or without eggplants or cooked in a stew with potato, onion and tomato sauce with a side of rice which is called Dawood Pasha.
*In West Bengal state of India and Bangladesh, koftas are made with prawns, fish, green bananas, and cabbage, as well as minced goat meat.

East and Southeast Asia

*Chinese meatballs (''wanzi'') are typically made of pork and can be steamed, boiled or deep fried, sometimes with the addition of soy sauce. Large meatballs, called lion's heads, can range in size from about in diameter. Smaller varieties, called pork balls, are used in soups. A Cantonese variant, the steamed meatball, is made of beef and served as a dim sum dish. Fish and seafood can also used to create different flavors and textures, and vegetarian alternatives to meatballs are served during festivals. In northern China, meatballs made from minced meat and flour, sometimes with the addition of lotus root or water chestnut for texture, are deep-fried and served in a vinegar-based sweet and sour sauce, or in a light broth with chopped coriander.

* Indonesian meatballs are called ''bakso'' which are usually served in a bowl, served in broth soup, with noodles, rice vermicelli, bean curd (tofu), hard-boiled egg, ''siomay'' steamed meat dumpling, and fried wonton. They have a consistent homogeneous texture. ''Bakso'' can be found in major Indonesian cities and towns, however, the most popular are ''bakso Solo'' and ''bakso Malang'' (named after the city of origin). In Malang, ''bakso bakar'' (roasted ''bakso'') is also popular. As most Indonesians are Muslim, generally it is made from beef or sometimes chicken.
*In Japanese cuisine, a popular variant of meatballs is ''tsukune'', minced chicken meatballs on a skewer. The Japanese hamburger steak, ''hanbāgu'', is typically made of ground beef, milk-soaked panko (bread crumbs) and minced, sauteed onions. They are typically eaten with a sauce made from ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Chinese-style meatballs are also popular. Another kind of meatball called ''Tsumire'' is made from ground fish. This is often added to soups or Nabes (stews).
*In the Philippines, meatballs are called ''bola-bola'' or '' almondigas'' and are usually served in a '' misua'' noodle soup with toasted garlic, squash and pork cracklings. ''Bola-bola'' are derived from Hispanic influence on Filipino cuisine and ultimately derived from Moorish influence. ''Bola-bola'' are also stewed or pan-fried until golden brown. ''Bola-bola'' is also used as a filling for siopao, the local variant of ''baozi''.
*In Thailand, meatballs (''luk chin'') are various. The materials can be pork, beef, chicken and fish. The finished meatballs can be incorporated into many dishes. They can be grilled, deep fried, eaten with dipping sauce, or can be used as the component of noodle soups.
*In Vietnam, meatballs (''thịt viên'' or ''mọc'', ''bò viên'', ''cá viên'') can be used as an ingredient in ''phở'' and ''hủ tiếu''. It is also common to cook meatballs in tomato sauce, and finely chopped spring onion and peppers are added before serving. In '' bún chả'' (a specialty Vietnamese rice noodle), meatballs are grilled to be ''chả'' and served with ''bún'' (rice noodles) and dipping sauce (based on fish sauce seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, and chili). ''Xíu Mại'' is a pork meatball in a tomato sauce often served with a baguette.

File:Seseri and Tsukune.jpg, Japanese ''Seseri'' (left) and (right)
File:Miswajf7582.JPG, ''Bola-bola'' with '' misua'' from the Philippines
File:Bun Moc Ha Noi.jpg, A bowl of '' Bún mọc'' in Vietnam, ''bún'' is rice vermicelli, while ''mọc'' means pork-ball
File:Filipino bola-bola (meatballs).jpg, Fried ''bola-bola'' from the Philippines

See also

* Frikandel, a Belgian and Dutch snack, similar in texture to meatballs, but shaped more like a hot dog or sausage than a ball
* List of meatball dishes
* Rissole
* Meatloaf

References

External links

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{{Lists of prepared foods

World cuisine
Meat dishes
Types of food
National dishes