A is a generally Spherical mass of Ground Meat and other ingredients, such as Bread or Breadcrumb s, minced Onion , various Spice s, and possibly Eggs , cooked by Frying , Baking , Steaming , or Braising in sauce.
Other foods are formed into balls, such as Fishball s and Quenelle s (based on fish) and Dumpling s (dough only).
There are many kinds of meatball recipes using different kinds of meats and spices. While some meatballs are mostly made of meat and ingredients to cement the ball, others may include other ingredients. How one makes one's meatballs depends as much on one's cultural background as on one's individual taste. There are even "meatless" meatballs to satisfy vegetarian palates.
From the Balkan s to India , there is a large variety of meatballs in the Kofta family.
The ancient Roman cookbook author Apicius included many meatball-type recipes.
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- In Afghanistan , meatballs are used as a traditional dish with homemade soups and now meatballs are grilled on top of Pizza .
- Albanian fried meatballs (''Qofte të fërguara'') include Feta Cheese .
- In Portugal and Brazil , meatballs are called 'almôndegas' and are usually fried and served with spaghetti.
- Chinese meatballs (specifically, a dish common in Shanghai cuisine) are most often made of pork and are usually steamed or boiled, either as-is, or with the addition of Soy Sauce . These can range in size from about 5 cm in diameter to about 10 cm. The plain steamed meatballs are also called Lion's Head s. Smaller varieties are used in soups. A Cantonese variant, the Steamed Meatball , is made of beef and served as a Dim Sum dish. A similar dish is called the Beef Ball and the Fish Ball is yet another variety made from pulverized fish.
- Danish meatballs are known as '' Frikadeller '' and are typically fried, and they are usually made out of ground Pork , veal, onions, eggs, salt and pepper, these are formed into balls and flattened somewhat, so they are Pan ready.
- In Finland meatballs (''lihapullat'') are made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork, mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk and finely chopped onions. They are seasoned with White Pepper and Salt . Meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam, and sometimes fresh Pickled Cucumber .
- In Germany , meatballs are called Frikadellen (in the North, from the Italian ''frittatella'') or Buletten (in the East) or Fleischpflanzerl or Fleischküchle if you happen to be in the South. A general term for meatballs is Hackbällchen.
- In Austria , fried meatballs are called Fleischlaberl.
- In Greece , fried meatballs are called 'keftedes' and usually include within the mix onions and mint leaf. Stewed meatballs are called 'yuvarlakia'.
- In Bulgaria , meatballs are called 'kyufte' and are usually made of a mixture of beef and pork with breadcrumbs and sliced onions. Many other variations exist including different kinds of meat and chopped vegetables.
- In Indonesia , meatballs are called 'bakso' which are usually served in a bowl, like soup, with noodles, beancurds (tofu), eggs, 'siomay', and/or fried meat.
- In Italy , meatballs are known as ''polpette'' and are generally eaten as a main course or in a soup.
- The Japan ese Hamburger Steak ''hanbāgu'' is based on similar ingredients.
- In Norway , meatballs are called ''kjøttkaker'' ("meat cakes") and resemble Danish frikadeller, but they are usually made from Ground Beef . This dish is traditionally served with boiled Potato es, Gravy , Lingonberry Jam and/or stewed green Peas . Some people also like to add fried/ Caramelize d onion on the side. As in Denmark, Swedish köttbullar (meatballs) are widely popular.
- The "chiftele" and "pârjoale" from Romania are usually deep fried and made with pork or poultry, moistened bread and garlic. "Chiftele" are smaller and with more meat. A crude, plain meat variant is used for sour soup, making "ciorbă de perişoare".
- In Spain and Latin America , meatballs are called 'albóndigas,' derived from the Arabic 'al-bunduq' (meaning 'hazelnut,' or, by extension, a small round object). Albóndigas are thought to have originated as a Berber or Arab dish imported to Spain during the period of Muslim Rule . Spanish albóndigas can be served as an appetizer or main course, often in a tomato sauce, while Mexican albóndigas are commonly served in a soup with a light broth and vegetables.
- In Sweden ''köttbullar'' (meatballs) are made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork, mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk and finely chopped onions. They are seasoned with White Pepper or Allspice and Salt . Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam, and sometimes fresh Pickled Cucumber . Swedish meatballs are served at the cafeteria at most IKEA locations around the world.
- In The Netherlands , a meatball goes by the name 'gehaktbal' ("chopped (referring to the meat) ball") and is often served with boiled potatoes and vegetables. This combination has been the most common dish in Dutch households throughout history.
- Turkish Cuisine features more than 80 types of meatballs ('' Köfte ''), most being regionally made. In addition, Turkish-style meatballs are made throughout Middle Eastern cooking, often with a localized form of the Turkish name attached.
- In the United Kingdom , Faggot s are a type of meatball.
- In the United States , meatballs are commonly served with Spaghetti as in "spaghetti and meatballs", a fundamental dish in Italian American Cuisine . In American practice, they are usually made much larger than in Italy.
- "Meatballs" was the name of a comedy starring Bill Murray. It was released in 1979, and was Bill's first leading role in a full length motion picture. He plays a camp councelor in a bunk full of misfits or "meatballs".
- In the sport of Baseball , a poorly thrown pitch which travels slowly through the high portion of the Strike Zone is referred to as a "meatball". Such a pitch is easy to time and swing on, and the resulting hit is often for extra bases or a Home Run (often referred to as a " Tater ").
- In the United States Navy , a "meatball" is a visual signalling device used on Aircraft Carriers to inform pilots on landing approach that they are in the proper Glideslope to land safely on the carrier deck.
- The classic blue-circle-and-red-vector design of the NASA Logo is referred to as "The Meatball".
- Within General Electric , the classic GE logo is popularly known as "the meatball."
- In the popular sci-fi TV series, , it was quoted by G'Kar that every known space-faring race actually had a dish similar in form and taste to Swedish meatballs. (The Narn version is called "Breen".)
- In Adam Sandler 's movie '' The Wedding Singer '', the title character gives singing lessons to an old woman in exchange for her famous meatballs as payment.
- In 2002, Sandler made a short film called "A Day With The Meatball". It was about (apparently) Adam Sandler's dog "Meatball", who started his day doing human things such as going to school, working out, reading at the library, getting his hair styled, and even dating a human. The film is featured on VHS copies of Eight Crazy Nights .
- "Mamma Mia! That's a spicy meatball!" was a phrase used in 1960's television advertisements for Alka Seltzer .
- In the film '' Bride Of Chucky '', Chucky is presented with Swedish meatballs.
- During World War II the Japanese '' Hinomaru '' or sun disk, which appeared as a large red disk on aircraft and flags, was derisively called the "meatball" by Allied forces.
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