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Chipotle Meatballs

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Chipotle MeatballsDitte Isager

Albóndigas (meatballs) are often served in a soup or a sauce, but our skewered version needs only a squeeze of refreshing lime juice to bring out their meaty richness. Spicy chipotle, crumbled bacon, and a hint of cumin make them unforgettable.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    40 min

  • Yield

    Makes 8 (hors d'oeuvres)

Ingredients

1

/3 cup whole milk

1

/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs

6

bacon slices, chopped

1

/2 cup finely chopped onion

1

tablespoon chopped garlic

1

tablespoon finely chopped seeded canned chipotles in adobo

1

teaspoon ground cumin

3

/4 teaspoon dried oregano

2

tablespoons water

3

/4 pound ground pork

1

/2 pound ground veal

1

large egg, lightly beaten

1

/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Equipment: about 16 (6-inch) wooden skewers, soaked in water

Garnish: lime wedges

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir together milk and bread crumbs in a large bowl.

    Step 2

    Cook bacon in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

    Step 3

    Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet, then cook onion, garlic, chipotles, cumin, and oregano in skillet, stirring, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until water has evaporated, about 1 minute. Stir into bread crumb mixture, then add ground meats, egg, parsley, bacon, and 1 teaspoon salt and mix well with your hands.

    Step 4

    Preheat broiler.

    Step 5

    Form scant tablespoons of meat mixture into balls and thread 3 balls 1/2 inch apart onto each skewer, arranging skewers on a lightly oiled broiler pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat (do not turn) until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.