posted by Mai 04-22-102 10:54 AM
Meatballs in Whiskey Sauce
For the Meatballs:
4 slices packaged white bread, crustless and crumbled
1/2 cup milk for soaking
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup finely diced onion cooked in 1 tablespoon oil until soft
1 3/4 pounds ground round or sirloin (Can use, chicken or turkey. If you substitute ground turkey or chicken, then season the poultry mix with thyme and sage and omit the coriander.)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs for coating
For the Sauce:
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 clove garlic, minced
20 ounces white mushrooms, stems removed, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup Scotch whiskey
1/4 cup coarse-grain mustard
2 tablespoons flour
2 1/4 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf
To make meatballs: Soak the crumbled bread in the milk for 15 minutes or until softened. Squeeze out the excess moisture and transfer the soaked bread to a food processor along with the egg, thyme, rosemary and coriander. Process until combined, then add the cooked onions, 2/3’s of the meat, salt and pepper to taste, and process until blended. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the remaining meat and mix with your hands. Roll the meat into thirty two 1 1/2-inch meatballs, then roll the meatballs in the dry bread crumbs, coating all sides.
To cook meatballs and make sauce: In a 6- to 7-quart casserole, over moderate heat, heat the vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter. In two batches, brown the meatballs making sure they are crisp on all sides. When they are brown, remove them with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add the shallots to the remaining fat in the casserole and sauté for a couple of minutes or until tender. Add the garlic and mushrooms and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Add the whiskey and boil, scraping up the juices on the bottom of the casserole into the whiskey and simmer for a minute or so or until the whiskey has almost evaporated. Add the mustard and the flour and cook for a minute. Add 2 cups of the beef broth and bring it to a simmer, whisking all the while. Add the bay leaf and simmer for a couple of minutes. Adjust the seasoning and return the meatballs to the sauce (the dish can be made a day or two in advance up to this point). Simmer the meatballs, uncovered for 15 minutes or until done in center.