I’m fond of tricks that give the impression you have slaved all day over a hot stove stirring a wicked good sauce when in fact you threw a bunch of ingredients together in like 5 minutes.
This is one such “trick” recipe. You basically melt down a can of jellied cranberry sauce (it’s all on sale now that Turkey Day has come and gone), throw in a bottle of cocktail or chili sauce, and voila–a sweet & spicy sauce I like to use with meatballs, although it would go well with chicken or beef (especially ribs) as well.
Note 2: Some people like to cook their meatballs first and then add them into the sauce. I prefer to to cook them in the sauce so they absorb all of the good flavors.
Ingredients:
1 can jellied cranberry sauce (NOT whole berry)
1 bottle cocktail or chili sauce
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 Tbsp chopped cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced fine
Directions:
- Heat cranberry sauce in a large saucepan until melted. Add cocktail/chili sauce and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Combine meat, egg, bread crumbs, cilantro and garlic. Roll into balls and add to sauce (try to space them out, after a minute or so they’ll firm up enough to stir).
- Cook 8-10 minutes or until cooked through, stirring occasionally.
The cost:
ground meat: 4.99
cranberry sauce: 1.29
cocktail/chili sauce: 1.49
cilantro: 1.69
Grand total: $9.46; serves 4-6 over rice or quinoa
