Cheesy French Onion Meatballs

Cheesy French Onion Meatballs

 

Cheesy French Onion Meatballs

Ingredients


The Meatballs:
  1. 500 g beef mince
  2. 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  3. 1 egg, lightly beaten
  4. 1 packet (approx. 30 g) French Onion soup mix
  5. 1 tsp dried thyme
  6. 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

The French Onion Sauce:
  1. 3 large brown onions, halved and thinly sliced
  2. 50 g unsalted butter
  3. 1 tbsp brown sugar
  4. 2 tbsp plain flour
  5. 2 cups beef stock (using 2 tsp beef bouillon)
  6. 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

The Cheesy Topping:
  1. 1 cup grated mozzarella or provolone
  2. 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  3. Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions


Caramelise the onions:
  1. Heat butter in a large deep frying pan or ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat.
  2. Add the sliced onions and brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes until the onions are deep golden and "jammy."

Roll the meatballs:
  1. While the onions are cooking, combine the beef mince, breadcrumbs, egg, French Onion soup mix, thyme, and pepper in a large bowl.
  2. Roll level tablespoons of the mixture into smooth balls (approx. 3 cm).

Brown and simmer:
  1. Remove the onions from the pan and set aside.
  2. Increase the heat to medium-high and add a splash of oil. Brown the meatballs for 5 to 7 minutes until golden all over (they don't need to be cooked through yet).
  3. Return the caramelised onions to the pan.
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the meatballs and onions, stirring for 1 minute to coat.
  5. Gradually pour in the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened into a rich gravy.

Get cheesy:
  1. Preheat your oven grill (broiler) to high.
  2. Sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan evenly over the top of the meatballs.
  3. Place the pan under the grill for 3 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.

To serve:
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with creamy mashed potatoes or crusty sourdough bread to soak up all that incredible onion gravy.