Hello Fresh Firecracker Meatballs (Printable)
Spicy glazed meatballs over jasmine rice with crisp sautéed vegetables for a bold weeknight dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatball Mixture
01 - 1.1 pounds ground beef or pork (or a mix)
02 - 1 large egg
03 - 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 scallions, finely sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon grated ginger
08 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Firecracker Sauce
09 - 3 tablespoons sriracha
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
→ Rice and Vegetables
15 - 1.25 cups jasmine rice
16 - 2 cups water
17 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
18 - 1 large carrot, julienned
19 - 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
20 - 3.5 ounces green beans, trimmed and halved
21 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
22 - Extra sliced scallions, for garnish
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 430°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, scallions, soy sauce, grated ginger, salt, and black pepper until just combined.
03 - Form mixture into 16 to 20 evenly sized meatballs. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning once halfway, until browned and fully cooked.
04 - Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Combine the rice and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together sriracha, mayonnaise, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until smooth.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add julienned carrot, sliced bell pepper, and green beans. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until just tender yet crisp. Lightly season with salt.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs to a large bowl and toss gently with two-thirds of the prepared firecracker sauce until well coated.
08 - Serve glazed meatballs over jasmine rice with sautéed vegetables on the side. Drizzle with remaining sauce and garnish with optional sesame seeds and extra scallions.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can easily tweak the spice level without losing any of the fiery-sweet character.
- This dish has just enough 'wow' factor to impress, but is practical enough for a Tuesday night.
02 -
- Under-seasoning the meatballs leads to bland bites—taste your mix before forming if you can.
- Waiting to sauce the meatballs until they’re hot from the oven is the key to a shiny, flavorful glaze.
03 -
- Shaping smaller meatballs means more caramelized edges and better sauce coverage.
- A final drizzle of sesame oil right before serving wakes up the whole dish.