Hello, amazing home cooks!
I’m thrilled to connect with you all and share a delightful recipe; Home Cooking: Meatballs & Bitter Melon. This dish will awaken your taste buds and take you on a journey of culinary excitement.
It’s a pleasure to be able to inspire and encourage you to explore your inner chef. You are capable of amazing things. I trust that this recipe will allow you to unleash your creativity in the kitchen.
I hope that this blog post fills you with inspiration and ignites a fire within you to experiment with different ingredients and techniques. Remember, every step you take towards your cooking goals is a step towards creating something truly special. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure!
Let me present to you the mouth-watering and satiating Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Meatballs with a delightful twist of bitter melon. This exquisite dish is perfect for anyone who appreciates the harmonious blend of savory and cheesy flavors, that are perfectly offset by a touch of bitterness. Additionally, bitter melon possesses several health benefits, such as reducing blood sugar levels, improving immunity, and fighting inflammation. Moreover, the inclusion of this unusual vegetable provides a brilliant textural contrast to the soft and succulent meatballs, giving it an extra kick.
What is bitter melon?
Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd or karela (in India), is a unique vegetable fruit that can be used as food or medicine. It is the edible part of the plant Momordica Charantia, which is a vine of the Cucurbitaceae family and is considered the most bitter among all fruits and vegetables. (source: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/natural-therapies/bitter-melon.html)
So why not try this fantastic recipe and impress your loved ones with your culinary prowess? Trust me, the delicious blend of flavors and the unique twist of bitter melon will leave you wanting more!
Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Meatballs and bitter melon
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 4 oz cheddar chees cut into small cubes
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 bittermelon sliced and seeded
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well with your hands until well combined.
- Take a small amount of the meat mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place a cube of cheese in the center and wrap the meat around it, sealing it well. Repeat with the remaining meat and cheese, making about 16 meatballs.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, turning occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the water, cornstarch, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes if using. Pour the sauce into the same skillet and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.
- Add the bitter melon slices to the sauce and cook until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
- Serve the meatballs and bitter melon with the sauce over rice or noodles. Enjoy!
