Chipotle Meatballs

From the kitchen of Carly

Smoky chipotle meatballs spiked with cumin and crispy bacon. Ground pork gets tender from a milk-soaked breadcrumb base, while charred onions and adobo heat build real depth. Bake them until golden and serve with whatever sauce calls to you.

Prep
n/a
Cook
n/a
Total
n/a
Servings
4
Difficulty
medium

Ingredients

4 servings

  • 11/3 cup whole milk
  • 11/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • 16 bacon slices, chopped
  • 11/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 11 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 11 tablespoon finely chopped seeded canned chipotles in adobo
  • 11 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 13/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 12 tablespoons water
  • 13/4 pound ground pork
  • 11/2 pound ground veal
  • 11 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 11/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1Equipment: about 16 (6-inch) wooden skewers, soaked in water
  • 1Garnish: lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Stir together milk and bread crumbs in a large bowl.

  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.

  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.

  4. Preheat broiler.

  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.