In this wickedly effective meatball recipe, you’ll learn how to make lean and mean, easy meatballs in a creamy white sauce.
Recently I found out the most popular recipe on my site is the Balkan meatballs recipe.
This surprised me.
Now, don't get me wrong! Meatballs, and especially my sister's homemade ones, are fantastic. I don't know what other word to use to express how soft but compact they are. Or how a few of her simple tricks make meatballs taste better than a chocolate birthday cake.
(And how versatile are meatballs?! They go with different sauces, a whole array of contrasting pastas, and are hands-down the most perfect sandwich stuffing.)
Still, for a blog about Balkan food, I was expecting the most popular recipe to be more traditional. That I'd be rocking your boat with the stuffed phyllo goodness known as the spinach pie, or even cherry infused liquor. But no! You love meatballs.
So I'll give you meatballs!
This time they're coming to you in a creamy, white sauce. There is no big secret behind the sauce itself: it's just heavy cream mixed with the meatballs just as they've finished frying. Something old with something new.
How to Make Homemade Meatballs in White Sauce (Ćufte u Bijelom Sosu)
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 11 ounces ground beef
- 1 slice of old bread soaked
- 1 egg
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- Pepper to taste
Coating:
- 4-5 tablespoons white flour
- 3.5-5 ounces oil
Topping:
- 9 ounces heavy cream
- 1-2 garlic cloves minced
- Optional Parmesan and parsley (garnish)
- Optional Pasta or rice
Instructions
- Combine ground beef with a slice of soaked (squeezed) bread. Add egg, minced garlic, mustard, and seasonings. Mix really well with your hands. Make small balls out of the mixture, each the size of a table tennis ball (you should end up with about 15 or so balls).
- (If you're making pasta or rice as a side, start cooking it now.)
- Prep a plate with flour on the side, and heat up oil in a deep skillet on high. When the oil is really hot, dip each meatball in flour, and transfer to skillet.
- Lower to medium and fry balls for about 4-5 minutes on one side, then flip to the other. After another 5-6 minutes, add heavy cream and lower the heat to medium low. Bring everything to boil, wait another 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or pasta.
Sajra says
Hi Aida,
would you say this recipe kind of resembles Klepe but without Paprika?
Aida says
Hi Sajra,
You mean the sauce in the recipe? Yes, both are heavy cream based, but one is baked (klepe) and the other one done in a skillet (meatballs).
Dawn Conklin says
These look delicious! We like meatballs here and for some reason I don't make them often enough! Will definitely have to try this tho and over potatoes sounds different - I have never had meatballs over potatoes but always willing to try new things 🙂
Aida says
Dawn,
Let me know how you like them! <3
Elmedina says
I would like to know if you ever considered writing books. I just came here to read about meatballs and suddenly I read your text like it's a book, I forgot about the meatballs. That happens often when I read your recipes.
However, I'm happy for having this blog. Thanks ❤️
Aida says
Elmedina,
Thank you for your kind words. 🙂 What makes me even happier is that you stopped by more than once for a recipe. I'll keep the stories and recipes coming. ❤️
Aida
Sabina says
Hi Aida,
I absolutely love your recipes. I love the fact that you have them in English as well. I have tried multiple different recipes and they all came out great. Thank you for sharing them with us. ❤️
Sabina
Aida says
Hi Sabina,
thank you! So good to hear these are of help and that they're coming out well. 🙂 We test and retest them to make sure that you don't waste time or resources.
Happy cooking! <3
Aida