Bavarian Meatballs with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients

• Meatballs: Meatballs:
• 500g (1.1 lb) ground beef 500g (1.1 lb) ground beef
• 500g (1.1 lb) ground pork 500g (1.1 lb) ground pork
• 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 eggs 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying
• Creamy Mushroom Sauce: Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
• 250g (8.8 oz) mushrooms, sliced 250g (8.8 oz) mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beef broth 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1880 KJ
• Fat: 32g (Saturated Fat: 15g)
• Carbohydrates: 12g (Sugar: 2g)
• Protein: 28g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, minced garlic, eggs, salt, black pepper, paprika, nutmeg, and chopped parsley. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
2. 2.
   Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
3. 3.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches and cook until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the cooked meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
4. 4.
   In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the mushrooms are golden brown and the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
5. 5.
   Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and onions, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste.
6. 6.
   Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
7. 7.
   Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
8. 8.
   Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer in the sauce for 5-7 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
9. 9.
   Serve the Bavarian Meatballs with Creamy Mushroom Sauce over buttered noodles or mashed potatoes. Garnish with additional chopped parsley, if desired.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Ground beef and pork — Use a mixture of lean and fatty cuts to achieve the perfect balance of flavor and juiciness.
• Mushrooms — Choose fresh mushrooms such as cremini or button mushrooms for the best taste and texture.
• Heavy cream — For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less creamy.

Tips & Tricks

• For extra flavor, you can add a splash of white wine to the mushroom sauce while simmering.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.
• To save time, you can make the meatballs in advance and refrigerate them until ready to cook.
• Experiment with different types of mushrooms, such as porcini or shiitake, to add unique flavors to the dish.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serving advice

Serve the Bavarian Meatballs with Creamy Mushroom Sauce as a main course, accompanied by a side of buttered noodles or mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color.

Presentation advice

Arrange the meatballs on a platter, spooning the creamy mushroom sauce over the top. Sprinkle with additional chopped parsley for an elegant touch. Serve with a side of buttered noodles or mashed potatoes.