Porcupine meatballs facts for kids
Porcupine meatballs are a yummy American dish. They are made from ground beef and rice, shaped into balls, and then cooked in a tasty tomato sauce. They got their funny name because as they cook, the rice sticks out, making them look a bit like a prickly porcupine!
This dish was very popular during the Great Depression, a time when many families didn't have much money. It was great because it used simple, cheap ingredients like beef, rice, onion, and canned tomato soup. You can cook porcupine meatballs in a slow cooker or bake them in the oven. People often eat them with mashed potatoes or a side like relish. You can even make sandwiches with the leftovers!
The Story of Porcupine Meatballs
Porcupine meatballs have been around for a long time! The first known recipe for a dish like this, called "rice meat balls," appeared in a cookbook called "Conservation Recipes" way back in 1918.
This dish stayed popular for many years, even into the 1970s. It was a favorite because it was easy to make and used ingredients that most families had.
Making Your Own Porcupine Meatballs
The basic recipe for porcupine meatballs is simple. You mix ground beef with uncooked long-grain rice, some onion, and seasonings. Then you roll them into balls and cook them in a sauce, usually made from tomato soup.
But people have come up with many fun ways to change the recipe!
- You can add other veggies like green pepper or celery to the meatballs.
- Some recipes use different sauces. For example, a 1969 recipe for "Porcupine meatballs paprika" used cream of mushroom soup instead of tomato soup, and added paprika and sour cream.
- You can also add different flavors to the sauce, like molasses, chili powder, or cumin.
- There's even a cool version called "Porcupine meatballs Chinois." This one is inspired by Chinese cooking! It uses ground pork, shrimp, rice, and green onion. It's seasoned with soy sauce and sherry, and instead of cooking in sauce, these meatballs are steamed and served with a peach sauce.
No matter how you make them, porcupine meatballs are a classic and fun dish to enjoy!
