These happy little appetizer bites taste like Sicilian Christmas.
Using your hands, mix together 1 pound ground pork, ¼ cup currants, ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, 1 beaten egg, 2 tablespoons orange zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and ½ teaspoon ground cloves. Shape the mixture into 22 to 24 meatballs – about 1½ tablespoons each.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place about 8 meatballs in the skillet, leaving space between them, and cook 2 minutes. Flip the meatballs, cover the skillet and cook another 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining meatballs. Serve warm.
To make a simple dipping sauce, combine 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce (we like Contadina Extra Thick & Zesty), ¼ cup dry red wine, ½ teaspoon ground fennel, ? teaspoon ground cloves, and salt and pepper to taste in a small saucepot. Place over medium heat until warm, then serve.
Dee Ryan is a longtime contributor to Sauce Magazine.
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This article appears in December 2017.