Description
Classic French Provençal meatballs bring Mediterranean flavors to dinner tables with rustic charm. Herbes de Provence and lean ground beef create a delightful combination you’ll savor with crusty bread and crisp green salad.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) 90% lean ground beef
- 6 oz (170 g) freshly grated Gruyere cheese
- 4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 10 tsps Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 12 tsps kosher salt
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Toasted baguette slices, for serving
Instructions
- Caramelize Onion Base: Heat olive oil in a skillet and slowly transform finely chopped onions, minced garlic, bay leaves, and salt over medium-low heat. Stir frequently for 40-45 minutes, developing a deep golden color. Occasionally add water to prevent burning and maintain moisture.
- Flavor Enhancement: Remove bay leaves and incorporate fresh thyme and cracked black pepper to elevate aromatic complexity.
- Meatball Composition: Blend ground beef, egg, panko breadcrumbs, kosher salt, ground pepper, and half of caramelized onions. Mix gently to ensure even distribution without compromising meat’s tenderness.
- Browning Technique: Shape uniform meatballs and sear in olive oil, creating a rich caramelized exterior. Dust with all-purpose flour, cooking briefly to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Sauce Creation: Pour chicken broth, remaining caramelized onions, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet. Simmer until liquid reduces and thickens, developing a rich, concentrated flavor profile.
- Final Touches: Sprinkle grated cheese over meatballs and broil until cheese melts into a golden, bubbling surface. Serve immediately with toasted French baguette slices and refrigerate remaining portions within 2 hours.
Notes
- Caramelize with Care: Low and slow is the secret to developing deep, sweet onion flavor without burning; patience transforms ordinary onions into a flavor-packed foundation.
- Meat Mixing Mastery: Handle ground beef gently when combining ingredients to keep meatballs tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
- Browning Brilliance: Ensure even, golden-brown exterior by rotating meatballs carefully and avoiding overcrowding in the skillet for perfect caramelization.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Watch closely under the broiler to achieve a perfectly golden, bubbling cheese topping without burning the delicate surface.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 446
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 678 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg