Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs: A recipe that leans into nostalgia — but gets an update too

You might have grown up with a meatball recipe that used grape jelly and a tomato-based chili sauce. Sometimes you’d see them on toothpicks at parties, or they might have been served on rice for a weeknight meal. This version uses fresh fruit and vegetables instead, but also a bit of ketchup because nostalgia rules (and so do easy meals)! And obviously, meatballs. 

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs 

Note: Depending on the sweetness of the vegetables and pineapple, you may want to add more sugar, vinegar, salt or chili flakes to the sauce. Taste as you go!

Ingredients

Meatballs:

• 900 g (2 lb) lean ground beef
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
• ½ tsp pepper, plus more to taste

Sauce:

• 2 large tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
• 1 large sweet white onion, roughly chopped
• 1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• ½ fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
• ½ tsp chili flakes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and mix well. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and set aside.

Pulse the tomatoes, onion, carrot and ginger in a food processor until smooth. Add the pineapple and pulse until it’s still a bit chunky. 

Transfer the fruit and vegetable mixture to a large pot and add the chili flakes, olive oil, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Add the meatballs, cover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. 

Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the meatballs are done and the sauce has cooked down, 2 hours, stirring every half hour or so. Serve with rice or crusty bread.

The meatballs and sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, defrost it overnight in the fridge, then reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.

Serves 6