Party-perfect mini meatballs

Ingredients

Makes about 30 small meatballs

1 lb lean ground beef, preferably sirloin           

1 cup fine dry bread crumbs           

1 onion, grated           

1 egg, beaten           

2 tsp finely grated lemon zest           

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice           

1⁄2 tsp salt            

1⁄2 tsp allspice           

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp olive oil           

3 tbsp all-purpose flour           

1⁄2 tsp cracked black peppercorns           

2 cups beef broth, heated to boiling

1⁄2 cup sour cream           

1. In a bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, lemon zest and juice, salt, allspice and pepper to taste. Mix well. Using your hands, shape into balls about 1⁄2 inch in diameter.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meatballs in batches and cook, stirring, until nicely browned, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer to slow cooker stoneware as completed.

3. Add flour to pan and cook, stirring, until frothy but not browning, about 2 minutes. Stir in peppercorns. Add beef broth and cook, stirring, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 2 minutes. Pour over meatballs.

4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until meatballs are cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Add sour cream and dill to stoneware and stir well. Pour over meatballs and serve.

BY GL ON 1/4/2012 2:49:00 PM

POSTED IN dinner, snack, fall recipes, winter holiday recipes, easy party food