The Ultimate Meatball Challenge – Competition time!
Posted on November 29, 2012 by nerinatimm in beef, Dinner Divas
It was The Ultimate Meatball Challenge and it all happened here in Nina’s Kitchen! Wow, what fun we had, cooking, filming, challenging, but most of all laughing and more laughing! Who can make the ultimate meatball? That was the challenge put to the two contestants and ordinary contestants they were not!
During the first episode of Dinner Divas, I prepared a Mexican Family Feast. I had to make meatballs as part of my menu and because I have always thought that I can cook the ultimate meatball, I was in the least bit worried about this part of my menu.
Lights, camera, action!!!
Caro and Aubrey choosing ingredients
Sadly the judges Caro de Waal ( Food 24) and Aubrey Ngcungama(former Come Dine with me South Africa contestant and judge on the Dinner Diva Show) did not think my meatballs were up to standard, it would have helped a lot if I remembered to put it on the table in the first place. Anyway, the verdict was “over-seasoned” and “over-cooked”! It took me exactly two days to get over it! For heaven sake, I take pride in my meatballs and have always thought that I can make the ultimate meatball! “Who the hell are these judges anyway?”
The pantry
It was then that I came up with a master plan….. The Ultimate Meatball Challenge. I challenged the judges, Caro and Aubrey to come and cook their meatballs in my kitchen. My house, my ingredients and my rules! It was time for them to put their money where their mouths are and show me how it was supposedly done! They both gladly accepted the challenge and it was “Game on!”
The judges – Anel and Nina
I invited Anel from Lifeisazoobiscuit to be my fellow judge as the judges also had a problem with her meatballs in her episode so it was time to get even!
I supplied the basic ingredients and each contestant could bring his/her secret or special ingredient which they thought could make the Ultimate Meatball!
The main characters in the story – Nina, Anel, Caro and Aubrey
The basic ingredients I supplied were:
beef mince
pork mince
lamb mince
a wide selection of herbs and spices
onions and spring onions
bread crumbs
lemons and limes
The lovely Caro de Waal
We had an absolute blast! We had such fun, lots of laughs, but indeed we learned from each other. Both contestants chose pork and beef for their meatballs, just in different ratios. This is where the similarities ended, Aubrey went the Italian route with added Parmesan and Caro added her “secret ingredient” to create her showstoppers. After much fun, it was time to judge…. Points were given for:
Aubrey being a natural on TV
Creativity 5
Taste 5
Texture 5
Moisture 5
Seasoning 5
Even the much loved Martelize Brink from RSG popped in!
After much tasting and debate, Anel and I both felt Aubrey’s meatballs had good flavor, but needed a little salt and also because he is such a creative character, we expected something more innovative and different like his personality.
A kind word to your competitor!!
Caro’s meatballs were absolutely delicious. Her secret ingredient did the trick and she stepped out as the winner of the Ultimate Meatball Challenge. The fact that she sautes her onion and garlic before she ads it to her mince, makes a huge difference, it lends a sweet, warm feel to the meatballs and then of course the “meat butter” took her meatball to the Ultimate meatball, wow, amazing stuff!
Judgement day!!!
Here then is:
Caro’s Ultimate Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
100 g good pork sausage or pork minc
1 small onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 lemon
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garam masala
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 chunks of beef bone marrow
2 Tbs chopped basil
2 Tbs chopped parsley
1 egg yolk
100 g butter
Olive oil
Seasoning
Method
Grate the rind of 1/2 the lemon.
Sauté the onion and garlic in a pan of half butter and half oil.
When the onion and garlic have softened (about 5 minutes on a low heat), add the lemon juice, sugar, lemon rind and garam masala.
Cook until fragrant (another 2 minutes or so) and remove from the pan.
Place the onion mixture into a bowl and into the fridge to cool.
In a bowl, combine the 2 meats. Add the bone marrow (chopped finely), the Worcestershire sauce, the chopped herbs, the egg yolk and season with salt and black pepper.
When the onion mixture is cold, add it and combine it well with your hands.
Then place it back into the fridge to cool again and rest. (You could roll them into balls before they go in).
Place half butter and half oil in a clean pan and pan fry the meatballs, turning carefully until browned.
They will be slightly raw in the centre and are best cooked through on a low heat in a lovely tomato based sauce.
You can jazz up the basic sauce with things like olives, chillis and capers.
Tip: Bone marrow: Ask your butcher or at any butchery counter in your supermarket. Make sure to ask for the biggest bones and that you will be using the marrow. It’s very cheap too.
Serve with: These beautiful balls are great with pasta, creamy mash or lovely soft polenta.
Are they forming an alliance?
Dinner Divas have moved into the semi-final stage and the heat is on between the Top 7 to find SA’s Ultimate Dinner Diva. This weekend it is Anel from Lifeisazoobiscuit and Sue Green from Sous Chef. I will be cooking again on the 8 December!
Competition time with Nina’s Kitchen and I love Cooking
Tell me what the secret ingredient in Caro’s Ultimate Meatball! Leave a comment below and also tell me what your secret is. Send a photo of your meatballs ( cell phone pics are fine) to myeasycooking@gmail.com and you stand a change to win big.
Prizes
First Prize – Philips Food Processor
Second Prize – R500 cash from I love Cooking
Third Prize – R250 Kalahari Voucher from I love Cooking
16 Responses to “The Ultimate Meatball Challenge – Competition time!”
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July 30, 2014
[…] taste in your mouth. Meatballs are near and dear to my heart, to such an extend that I called off a National meatball challenge in search of the perfect meatballs. The winning meatballs, were so simple and down to earth and it […]
bone marrow
What is the second meat? Beef?
Ooops, I see it now!
The meat butter was the ultimate
beef bone marrow the secret ingredient in Caro’s Ultimate Meatball’s
chunks of beef bone marrow
Beef bone marrow the secret ingredient
chunks of beef bone marrow
I would say the secret ingredient for Caro’s ultimate meatball would be the beef bone marrow
dankie vir n WONDERLIKE dag Nins – and let me just say – your meatballs are still the best!
I would say the lemon.
Pork and bone marrow! I add a little Mrs Ball’s…
The addition of bone marrow sounds fantastic. I ave my recipe for Frikadellen, on that site.
Great blog, enoyed the layout and of corse the recipes on it.
I am a home cooking type foodie, so my recipes are the type and style, so drop by Hubpages is not a blg perse but capsule of writing
This was a GREAT idea to get them back, Nins!! Bone Marrow was the beautiful Caro’s secret ingredient!!
I would say the bone marrow is the answer that you are looking for – but I beg to differ – i think the Garam masala is what gives it the twist??