Meatballs in sour cream sauce
Moushira Abdel-Malek, Tuesday 5 May 2020


Serves 4-6



Ingredients:

For Meatballs:

500 gm minced beef

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

1 tsp finely minced garlic

3 slices of white toast (edges removed; torn)

3 tbsp warm milk

1 egg

1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves (chopped)

1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying meatballs)

Salt + pepper + grated nutmeg + herbes de Provençe



For the Gravy:

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup cream

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 bouillons cubes (dissolved in 2.5 cups hot water)

2 tbsp flour

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp olive oil

Salt + pepper + grated nutmeg + herbes de Provençe



Method:

Meatballs: In a small saucepan; heat oil and butter. Add onion and garlic. Stir only until translucent. Remove into a big bowl; until cools off to room temperature. In another small bowl, mix milk and egg. Beat egg into milk with a tiny pinch of black pepper. Soak torn pieces of bread in mixture; pressing them down to soak well; only for five minutes. When onion and garlic have cooled off, add minced meat, milk mixture, parsley; (reserving a tiny handful to sprinkle) and all seasoning; over onion and garlic. Mix gently; only until well combined. Do not overmix the meat; lest meatballs become tough. Form into medium-sized balls; approximately 20. Heat a large frying pan on high heat. When hot, melt butter adding oil; for frying. Gently fry meatballs until lightly golden on all sides. Remove on kitchen paper towels and leave aside.



Gravy:

Using the same pan; reduce heat to medium. Add butter and oil. Stir to make a roux. Add the prepared stock while stirring constantly. When it blends and thickens; stir in the cream, sour cream, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Return fried balls into pan. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; stirring occasionally. When meatballs are done; remove away from heat. Pour into serving dish. Sprinkle reserved parsley on top. Serve with buttered pasta, or mashed potatoes, or fluffed white rice.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 7 May, 2020 edition ofAl-Ahram Weekly

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/368702.aspx