The new Beaver Falls restaurant, The Ball Joint, moved in and people are raving over it's gourmet meatballs- including yours truly. My daughter and I had the pleasure of enjoying some of the Ball Join't s lunch fare. I dunno what it is with this guy's balls, but, I love the taste that they leave in my mouth.
Yes. The ball humor runneth over. You can't help it.
In my quest for the perfect balls, I am also on a gluten free/ paleo-ish kick. I find that the added crap in everyday wheat products give me migraines and binds my stomach up something awful. Christmas time was a key indicator about my problems with gluten after I abandoned my nutrition for sugary, starchy, eat whatever-the-hell-I-want food: My head throbbed, my energy was low and my stomach was toe' up! How was I going to replicate meatballs without the breadcrumbs? This is where Quinoa comes in handy.
Makes 1 dozen large balls
1 pkg Ground chicken
1 cup pre-cooked quinoa
1 egg
2 tsp salt
A few turns of freshly ground pepper
1 large clove garlic, pressed
2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)
*1 cup Panko Optional
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 cup Fresh pineapple slices
1 scallion, diced
1/4 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
1/ 4 cup Sweet Chili Sauce
1tbsp Sriracha
Set your oven for 350º
Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with oil
In a mixing bowl, add your ground chicken, quinoa, egg, salt, pepper and garlic. Mix all of the ingredients together and form them into golf ball sized balls. Yes, they will be sticky. Shape them all into balls before cooking them. It evens cooking time. *If you aren't on a huge Gluten Free/ Paleo kick, roll those bad boys around in Panko bread crumbs* In a large pan on medium heat, add your olive oil. Wait 'til the pan is hot before placing your ballz in the pan. Get them well browned on all sides. Transfer them onto the cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
In the same pan that you seared your balls, on high heat, add your pineapple and scallions. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add the vinegar to deglaze. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the chili sauce and Sriracha. Wait until your balls are thoroughly cooked and add the sauce all over! These are some seriously sweet and sassy balls that you will love to wrap your lips around.
Yes. I went there.
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| Kids looooooove these meatballs. Awesome handcut fries! |
I'm so happy to report that Beaver does, indeed, have balls!
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| Dipping sauces galore! All made in-house! My favorites? Chipotle BBQ and Thai Peanut. |