Meatballs are one of those dishes that the whole family enjoys. They are great paired with spaghetti, but they also work well with mashed potatoes, rice, or in sandwiches. Meatball sub, anyone? But in order to have a great meatball experience, you need to cook great meatballs. And this is surprisingly easy to achieve if you just avoid some common mistakes that people usually make. Let’s check them out.
You Don’t Season the Meat
Seasoning is the key to getting the perfect meatballs. If you don’t season the meat, then you will just end up with a bland and disappointing dish. Salt is the most important, of course, but other seasoning plays a role as well. Parsley, basil, oregano, and nutmeg will give your meatballs a heavenly taste.
You Use Too Many Eggs (Or Don’t Use Them at All)
Eggs serve only as a binder in the meatball mixture, allowing it to thicken and giving it texture. This is why adding too many eggs to your meatballs will make them tough and heavy. On the other hand, not using any eggs will make them crumble and fall apart.
You Over-Mix
Yes, it is possible to over-mix the meatball mixture. Doing so will result in a paste that will give your far less satisfying results. In order to avoid this, you should mix the ingredients using your hands. Stop when you notice that the ingredients combined well, but chunks of meat are still visible.
You Don’t Roll them Correctly
The way you roll the meatballs is also crucial, as it isn’t just enough to make a ball and call it a day. The first thing to avoid is making the meatballs too tight. This will make them rubbery when cooked, and they won’t be able to absorb any sauce. The other thing you need to pay attention to is making all meatballs approximately the same size. This will allow them to cook evenly.
