Italian Porcupine Balls, ground beef and rice meatballs, simmered in a tomato sauce in rustic baking dish, horizontal view from above, flat lay (myviewpoint (Adobe Stock))
Looking for affordable and easy-to-prepare dinner recipes? I was looking through my recipes and came across one that I haven’t thought about in a few years. Porcupines!
The ground beef meatballs end up looking a little like porcupines because of the rice. It makes for a fun meal for kids and tastes very yummy! My mom used to make these often when I was growing up.
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Homemade tomato sauce in a glass jar, tomatoes and herbs on its side. (Meliha Gojak (Adobe Stock))
Tomato sauce
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 ¼ cup (10-11oz) condensed tomato soup
¾ cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef
½ cup uncooked rice
¼ cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Lightly grease a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish.
Make tomato sauce. Heat butter in a small skillet. Add celery and onion; cook until soft.
Add the rest of the tomato sauce ingredients. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until warm.
While sauce is cooking, combine beef, rice, onion, salt and pepper. Mix lightly and shape into 1-1/2-inch balls.
Add 1/2 cup of water to the sauce. Place the meatballs in your greased casserole dish. Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Cover the dish with an oven-safe lid or foil and bake for about one hour or until rice is tender.
These would be delicious served with a vegetable like green beans or broccoli. Or grab a simple mixed salad to round out the meal!
Porcupine Balls, ground beef and rice meatballs in tomato sauce with basil leaves in white bowl, italian cuisine, horizontal view from above, flat lay, free space (myviewpoint (Adobe Stock))
