Budget Meal No. 1 – Spicy Porcupine Balls
23 August 2011 in Uncategorized
Disclaimer: No porcupines became erm, *clears throat* sports models for this dish.
I’m a sucker for ‘specials’, my long suffering family will confirm this, so if mince is on special at my favourite butchery Oscars I buy in bulk. I paid R39.99 a kilo for the mince I used in this recipe, but in order to be fair I will use the price that it is currently, which is R49.99. I’m not going to cost out all the ingredients as many are staples that most of us have in the house.
I used to make this recipe for my kids when they were small using a diluted tin of tomato soup, but I no longer have to pander to young palettes. Little Troll was so cooking fussy; I swear the kid would have starved were it not for fish fingers and dippy eggs!
For the Porcupine Balls
350g beef mince R17.50 Oscars Butchery
1/3 onion finely chopped
¼ cup of uncooked rice
Seasoning
For the Sauce
1 tin of tomatoes R5.99 Food Lovers Market
2 TSP Worcester sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp Italian or mixed dried herbs
I chilli – optional (I slash it to release flavour, cut it into slices if you want a bigger hit of heat)
A little water to thin the sauce
Heat oven to 180 degrees.
Combine the mince, chopped onion and uncooked rice, form into little balls.
Grease a covered ovenproof dish and place the balls in it, make sure there is enough space as they do expand.
Open the tin of tomatoes and blend in a liquidizer or food processor.
Place the tomato liquid in a pan, add the Worcester sauce, the sugar, the herbs and the chilli.
Heat and simmer for a while, add a little water if it’s too thick.
Pour over the balls and cook @ 180 for 45 minutes.
Check halfway to see if it needs any more water.
Serves 3 – 4 people, depending on appetites, the balls become quite dense so I found 3 balls were enough for me, this recipe made 14.
I served my porcupine balls with freshly cooked spinach R3.99 from Food Lovers Market. You don’t really need another starch as there is already rice in the meatballs, so not only is this dish economical, it’s lean cuisine! (no frying involved)
Total: R27.48
JoDay said on 23 August 2011
fascinating, dear Supa… how does the rice get cooked without breaking the balls apart? And can one use any kind of rice – eg: basmati, which cooks faster?
Sous-Chef said on 23 August 2011
Ello Jo
I used tastic rice and I promise this is not a ball-breaking recipe! I have never used basmati in this so I can’t comment but I am sure it would work.
FleurinFrance said on 23 August 2011
oh wow this is something for me to try.
I really like the idea of the dried rice in the raw mince balls it makes it so much easier..
Sous-Chef said on 23 August 2011
It works really well, and it’s so easy and tasty. You can add whatever takes your fancy.
malma said on 23 August 2011
No aromat?
Sous-Chef said on 23 August 2011
Aromat falls under seasoning in the Sous household, to hell with pink salt from the Himalaya’s that some poor sherpa has gathered with his leatherman!
malma said on 23 August 2011
Tee hee.
Btw What do you get when you cross a pig with a cactus? A porkerpine.
What would you get if you crossed a mole with a porcupine? A tunnel that leaks.
Colonialist said on 23 August 2011
*shocked* I am calling the SPCA! Castrating poor innocent porcupines like that!
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anotherdayinparadise said on 24 August 2011
This does sound very economical indeed and looks so very tasty. Thanks again for another super recipe.
xxx
tandy.sinclair said on 24 August 2011
that is a serious budget meal, that tastes good too I am sure
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
*Bangs head on keyboard* @!#!!***!
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
It’s so so much catching the little blighters, it’s tricky handling them!
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
It’s a tasty dish that goes far.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
It was very tasty, we enjoyed it.
Zabwan said on 24 August 2011
Brilliant recipe, townie!!!! I like it an awful lot – will use this when camping, too
Thanks!!
Oh, and excellent photos, tho I am again coveting all your props…..
Kitchengirl said on 24 August 2011
Really lovely!
davidsdance said on 24 August 2011
ooo yummy – and that my fussy eater will eat – just need to leave out the onion!
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Try grating a little onion, he won’t see it and I bet he won’t notice.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Thanks Caro.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Thanks Zabwan, my mother gave me that metal dish, it’s nice hey!
tigresscap said on 24 August 2011
I have a very fussy almost 3 year-old in the house so this should work. Thanx!
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
I know how difficult it can be, you have my sympathies.
I-like-silly said on 24 August 2011
looks njammies, gonna try it!
0×0
Hopestar said on 24 August 2011
That looks quite delish SC:)
*hugs*
Hopestar said on 24 August 2011
Hahaha! a shocked Meerkat
janicetripepi said on 24 August 2011
Love meatballs .. and they go sooo far xxx great xxxx have a great evening xxx jan
sideview said on 24 August 2011
ok, I’m going to askk the obvious. What is the link to porcupine?
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
The rice sticks out of the meatball and looks like a porcupine sidey.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
These go very far considering there is only 350g mince, you too sis!
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Thanks Hopestar, it’s a really economical tasty recipe.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Hi Silly, let me know how it goes.
sideview said on 24 August 2011
I’ll ask the obvious! What part of the porcupine are you using?
sideview said on 24 August 2011
I’ll ask the obvious! What part of the porcupine are you using?
sideview said on 24 August 2011
I’ll ask the obvious! What part of the porcupine are you using?
sideview said on 24 August 2011
I’ll ask the obvious! What part of the porcupine are you using?
lyndatjie-farewell said on 24 August 2011
When I was in Spain they offered us Bull’s Balls… when I asked what the ingredients where – the guy looked at me funny and said slowely as if he was speaking to a child….
“we fry for you what makes the bull not a cow”.
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Eish side view, repeating yourself already?! *runs*
Sous-Chef said on 24 August 2011
Even this meat eater would pass on those! *shudder*
mitzireddy said on 24 August 2011
Looks delish, Sue and beautiful serving dish.
pinkpolkadot said on 24 August 2011
Great dish at an affordable price!!
Rockybaby said on 24 August 2011
Hello Sue
How is sleepy hollow doing.
My meat balls are diabolical. So much work. Hubs would eat them by the ton full. Sorrrryyyyy…
Rockybaby said on 24 August 2011
Now how on earth did you manage that, Sue?
Ghosts in your meat balls?
roelz said on 25 August 2011
wowo I never put raw rice in my meatballs before, I usually use oats. Thanks for the idea!
kat64 said on 25 August 2011
You have just reminded me of a recipe from varsity similar to this. Yours looks yummy-er than my old one though.
Love the bowl your mom gave you.
sideview said on 25 August 2011
apologies, slow internet connection and stutters at LD!
Colonialist said on 27 August 2011
You know how porcupines make love? VERY carefully!
Sous-Chef said on 27 August 2011
I worry about you and Madmom.
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