Friday?s Last Spoonful: Alternative Meatball Dishes

Variations on a meaty theme







The Mixed Stew has been buried in meatballs this week. What's the deal? (**See below.) Spaghetti and meatballs is the old standby for eating meatballs. What about trying something new? We like making Thai-style meatballs to change things up. Peanut butter, coconut milk, and soy sauce are the main ingredients needed for the sweet and spicy sauce. Another idea: Make minestrone soup and add meatballs for chunkier and heartier mouthfuls in every spoonful. Do you like any different dishes with meatballs? What follows is our recipe for Thai-style meatballs.



Make and bake meatballs or buy a bag of your favorite meatballs and follow directions for heating them up.



Thai-style Meatball Sauce



What you will need:



1 saucepan with lid

1 wooden spoon

½ large onion, chopped fine

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped fine

1 can coconut milk (13.5 fl OZ)

1 cup water

1/3 cup soy sauce

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

Pinch of salt and pepper

2 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce

cilantro, minced (optional topping)

peanuts, crushed (optional topping)



Cooking and Directions:



Heat pan on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil to hot pan. Next, sauté onions and garlic until onions turn translucent. Add water, salt, pepper, and soy sauce to pan. Bring to a boil. Now, add coconut milk, peanut butter, chili sauce, and sugar. Cover and mix well. Leave on stove at a low simmer for 10 minutes. Then it's ready to serve over meatballs. Sprinkle minced cilantro and crushed peanuts on top for an eye-pleasing-presentation at the table. Serve with vermicelli noodles, soba noodles, or steamed rice.



**Fun Fact: Don?t miss the opening of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, an animated movie in theaters this weekend!