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Jess is certainly right about one thing – Meatballs are the “little black dress” of party foods. They are completely adaptable and go with just about everything. Whether you serve them for a wedding reception, BBQ, picnic, church potluck, cocktail hour, graduation party or an open house you always have the perfect crowd pleaser! This recipe is made from scratch, but is easy enough and such a refreshing replacement for the typical pre-cooked frozen meatball that you find at those events.

HOISIN MEATBALLS aka ASIAN KETCHUP MEATBALLS adapted from Cooking is my Sport who adapted it from Food Network Magazine and Cooks Illustrated

MEATBALLS
3 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground sausage
2 tablespoons FINELY minced ginger root
4 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1/4 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 1/2-2 cups panko breadcrumbs
4 LARGE eggs

• Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Line two baking sheet pans with aluminum foil and place two wire racks on top of each pan. Lightly spray with non-stick baking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and sausage with the ginger, garlic, sugar, pepper, and scallions.
• Add the liquid aminos and eggs.
• Pour in 1 1/2 cups of the panko breadcrumbs and mix together by hand, but don’t knead it too much though, or the meatballs may be tough. If the mixture seems too wet, you can always add the extra 1/2 cup more of the panko breadcrumbs to tighten it up.
• Shape into meatballs (about 2 heaping tablespoons each).
• Place 1 1/2 inches apart on a lightly greased (with cooking spray) rack in an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.  
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes on the middle rack, or until browned.

SAUCE
3 teaspoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
3/4 cup Hoisin sauce
1 1/2 cups orange or pineapple juice
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
3 scallions, white and green parts sliced 1/8 inch thick on bias
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Sesame seeds, optional

• Melt about 3 teaspoons of avocado oil in a medium sized saucepan and heat until shimmering.
• Add the grated ginger and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant.
• Add the Hoisin sauce, juice, and broth and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the saucepan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Simmer until liquid reduces and thickens to desired consistency.
• Stir in the sesame oil and the scallions.
• Season with FRESH ground sea salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions if desired.