Takeout can be really comforting - but it's so much faster, especially where I am, to make your own at home. Stovetop Sweet & Sour Meatballs hit the spot!
If we are going to grab some takeout, it's almost always sushi or Chinese food. It just always feels like you get so much food for the money, and everyone can find their favourites, or try a bite of everything. However, it can often be outside someone's budget, or you're like me, and it requires a trip to town!
Grab some ground meat (we can use wild game or beef, whatever ya got!) and pantry staples and you can make a quick and easy sweet & sour meal that hits the spot and fills tummies.
I also love making teriyaki stir fry, which is perfect when you have larger cuts of meat. All of these types of meals can easily be made gluten-free, and you can also serve over whatever strikes your fancy.
Key Ingredients
Meat - Any red meat is great here! Whether you hunt and have venison in the freezer, or you pick up beef at the store or butcher.
Oats - I don't believe in buying a bunch of small quantities of extra ingredients. If I need "oat flour" I'm going to make it myself.
Pineapple - Tidbits are what I used here, as they are smaller and more bite-sized than chunks. But if you have a can of chunks? By all means, simply give them a quick chop.
Maple syrup - This adds both colour and sweetness, and I love the warmth of it over using honey.
Umami - Ha, it's such a fun word. This is where your vinegar and soy sauce come into play! Can't have sweet without the sour/savoury.
How to Make Stovetop Sweet & Sour Meatballs
***See recipe card below for precise measurements and instructions.***
Step 1: Grind the oats in a blender to make flour.
Step 2: Add all meatball ingredients to a large bowl and dive in! I like my Danish dough whisk or my hands.
Step 3: Next up, portion them out. You can use a disher or a spoon, but then roll them all to be round.
Step 4: Brown the meatballs in a large skillet, working in batches if necessary.
Step 5: Whisk up your sauce and pour over the meatballs to simmer.
Step 6: Stir in the pineapple to heat through, then serve.
Tips and Tricks
- Drain the can of pineapple right over a bowl to mix the sauce.
- Looking for fun toppings? Sesame seeds and diced green onions are perfect.
- Brown the meatballs in batches so you have enough room to turn them.
FAQs
Soy sauce does contain gluten, but it's super easy to just use tamari sauce or coconut aminos. Otherwise the sauce is naturally gluten-free! Keep in mind that while oats are gluten-free, they often have cross contamination of wheat so be aware of that depending on the needs of your family.
I love this meal over rice, but you can also use your favourite stir fry noodles. We like Tinkyada brand for brown rice noodles of any shape you can imagine. I highly recommend pulling out some frozen veggies to add to the skillet.
I've read that 1 cup of oats is about ¾ cup flour. Of course it all depends on if you are starting with quick or rolled and how far you process them. Because this isn't baking, you don't have to be super precise. If you are trying to use up that random bag of oat flour, measure out ¾ cup flour but don't add it all at once, just in case.
Photos by Dante from Shire by the Sea
More Asian Style Recipes
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Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat or other fat
Meatballs:
- 2 lbs ground meat whatever you have on hand
- 1 cup oats processed in blender as flour
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
Sweet & Sour Sauce:
- ½ cup vinegar
- ⅔ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 can pineapple tidbits 20 oz can
Instructions
- Blend oats until turned into a fine flour.
- Mince garlic and mix together the meat, egg, oatmeal flour, and garlic.
- Combine all meatball ingredients thoroughly by hand or using a Danish dough whisk.
- Roll into evenly sized balls; I made 35.
- Heat fat in a large skillet.
- Carefully place meatballs into heated skillet, browning each side. Work in batches if necessary.
- Drain pineapple juice from can into a bowl. Add remaining sauce ingredients and whisk. Save pineapple chunks for later.
- Pour sauce onto browned meatballs on medium heat, cooking all sides by turning them with a large spoon, careful not to overcook.
- Add pineapple on top and place lid on skillet for 5 more minutes to finish.
- Serve over rice or noodles and top with sesame seeds.
Notes
- Serve over rice or noodles, depending on what you have or have a taste for.
- This works well with any red meat such as venison, beef, bison. I haven't tested with poultry and it might be a bit too dry here.
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