Pimento Meatballs with Olive Tapenade

  5.0 – 1 reviews  • Meatballs
Level: Intermediate
Total: 55 min
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 40 min
Yield: about 24 mini meatballs

Ingredients

  1. 1/2 cup pitted green olives
  2. 1 cup fresh parsley
  3. 5 scallions, roughly chopped
  4. 1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
  5. 1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped
  6. 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  7. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  8. 1 pound ground beef chuck
  9. 1 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained, patted dry and chopped
  10. 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  11. 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  12. Kosher salt
  13. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  14. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  15. 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  16. 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
  17. 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the tapenade: Soak the olives in warm water, 5 minutes; drain. Combine the olives, parsley, scallions, capers, garlic, mustard and olive oil in a food processor and pulse several times.
  2. Prepare the meatballs: Put the ground beef in a large bowl and add 1/4 cup of the tapenade (reserve the rest for serving). Add the pimentos, breadcrumbs, egg and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix with your hands until combined. Dampen your hands and form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about 24).
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add the tomato paste to the skillet and cook, stirring, until slightly darkened, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, brown sugar and vinegar and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Return the meatballs to the skillet; reduce the heat to medium and simmer, occasionally spooning the liquid over the meatballs, until the liquid is reduced by half and the meatballs are cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Serve with the reserved tapenade.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 24 servings
Calories 66
Total Fat 4 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Carbohydrates 3 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugar 1 g
Protein 5 g
Cholesterol 20 mg
Sodium 152 mg

 

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