Polish Meatballs
Pork and beef meatballs with rice and dill, simmered for 25 minutes in a tomato sauce, served with mashed potato.
Making Polish Meatballs Ahead
Keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat gently in the sauce.
Making Polish Meatballs
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Mix the pork, beef, rice, onion, egg, half the dill and the salt with a wet hand for 2 minutes. Shape into 16 balls.
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Brown the meatballs in the oil for 4 minutes and lift out.
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Stir the tomato puree, stock, soured cream and sugar into the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
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Return the meatballs, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Scatter with the remaining dill and serve with the mash.
Tips for Success
- Half-cook the rice first.
- Keep the heat low once the soured cream is in.
- If your hob runs hot, check at 20 minutes.
- Wet your hands for shaping.
Behind the Recipe
Pulpety are the meatballs of a Polish Sunday table: soft, mild and cooked in a gently tangy sauce. Rice in the mixture makes them light, and dill gives them a green freshness.
Boil the rice for 10 minutes until half cooked and cool it. It will finish cooking in the meatball and keeps them tender. Mix the meat with a wet hand for 2 minutes, until it feels sticky; dry hands tear it apart.
Shape into 16 balls and brown them lightly in a pan for 4 minutes, turning, just to set the outside. They do not need to cook through.
Simmer the sauce of tomato puree, stock, soured cream and a pinch of sugar in a wide pan for 5 minutes, then add the meatballs and cook, covered, for 25 minutes. If your hob runs hot, check at 20 minutes and keep the heat low so the soured cream does not split. Scatter with dill and serve with mash.
What to Put Next to It
Mashed potato · Cucumber salad · Pickled beetroot · Boiled potatoes
Questions About Polish Meatballs
How long does Polish Meatballs take to make?
About 55 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Polish Meatballs?
Half-cook the rice first. Keep the heat low once the soured cream is in. If your hob runs hot, check at 20 minutes. Wet your hands for shaping.
What should I serve with Polish Meatballs?
Mashed potato; Cucumber salad; Pickled beetroot; Boiled potatoes.
How should Polish Meatballs be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat gently in the sauce.
Is Polish Meatballs suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is high-protein. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Polish Meatballs?
About 654 kcal per serving, with 35 g protein, 43 g carbohydrate and 38 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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