Venison Meatballs Recipe For National Meatball Day
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National Meatball Day is March 9th, but our order of ground venison for this delicious recipe didn’t arrive in time for dinner the day before. So we made it last night, and are pleased to share the yummy recipe below. It sent to us by New Zealand Venison, which raises grass-fed venison sustainably: no steroids, no hormones. First, some venison trivia: Besides being really delicious, venison is full of nutrition. Both red meat eaters and red meat avoiders should note that venison is: There are 20 more meatball recipes below. These meatballs go nicely with buttered noodles, with pasta (sauced as you prefer), or on a bed of grains. Unlike some meatball recipes, which can be fairly simple, this recipe has layers and layers of flavor. Prep time is 15 minutes, cook time is 1 hour 15 min 1. TRIM the fennel, discarding the stalks but reserving the fronds to garnish. Cut each bulb in half lengthways, then cut into slightly-less-than-one-inch-wide wedges. 2. PLACE the minced venison in a large bowl with the breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, dill, anchovies, fennel seeds, currants, half a teaspoon of salt, and a generous grind of black pepper. Mix to combine, then shape into about 30 golf-ball-sized balls. 3. HEAT the oil in a large sauté pan on a medium-high flame. Once hot, fry half the meatballs for five minutes, turning regularly until browned all over. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon, then repeat with the remaining meatballs. 4. FRY the fennel wedges in the same pan for four minutes, turning them a few times, until browned all over. Add the vermouth/white wine. Once it’s bubbling, stir in the tomatoes, lemon peel, half a teaspoon of salt, and plenty of pepper. Once the mix comes to a boil, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pan and leave to simmer gently for 10 minutes, until the fennel is starting to soften. 5. RETURN the meatballs to the pan, stir them through, cover and leave to cook for 30 minutes, until the fennel is soft and the meatballs are cooked. Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high and cook for five more minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. 6. REMOVE from the heat, sprinkle with the pine nuts and reserved fennel fronds, and serve with a lemon wedge. |
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________________ *Horned refers to horns or antlers of a particular family of mammals: antelopes, buffalo, caribou, deer, cows, giraffes, oxen, reindeer, and rhinoceroses. In most species, only males have antlers, but both females and males can have horns [source]. The clade Ungulata has numerous families including non-horned ungulates: camels, hippopotamuses, horses, pigs, sheep, tapirs; and zebras. Cetaceans such as dolphins, porpoises, and whales are also ungulates. Here’s more about ungulates. A clade is a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, as seen on a phylogenetic tree, according to the principles of cladistics. We belong to the great ape and human clade (Primates: Hominidae), which includes bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, humans, and orangutans. †Nutritionally, there are a few distinctions between the two. In a single three-ounce serving, bison contains slightly fewer calories and protein and is also a bit lower in micronutrients like niacin, thiamine, iron, and riboflavin. Bison does, however, contain slightly more zinc, vitamin B12, and selenium than venison [source]. ‡Click for the difference between ground meat and minced meat. ‡‡Dill and fennel are two herbs in the family Apiaceae, commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family. The seeds of both are used as spices, and the leaves are used as herbs. Fennel plants, which have a licorice-like flavor, are entirely edible: the bulb, stalk, leaves, even the delicate yellow flowers. |
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