FESTIVE BACON-WRAPPED MEATBALLS — ELEGANT, JUICY, AND FLAVORFUL
Celebrate any special occasion with these refined meatballs made from lean red meat, wrapped in crispy bacon to keep them juicy and tender. Infused with delicate coriander and allspice flavors, these elegant bites are perfect served on a bed of creamy parsnip purée with a rich red wine sauce.
🕒 Prep Time: 25 min
⏲️ Cook Time: 20 min
🍽️ Yields: 11 meatballs
Ingredients
- 200 g lean minced veal (or other lean red meat)
- Crustless bread from 1 slice, torn into pieces
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice (or pimento)
- 1/4 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 egg, beaten
- 11 thin slices bacon (or speck, ham)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture
- Soak the torn bread pieces in milk until softened.
- In a bowl, combine the soaked bread, minced veal, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, coriander, allspice, parsley, beaten egg, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.
2. Shape and Wrap
- Shape the mixture into elongated meatballs roughly the width of your bacon slices.
- Lay each meatball onto a bacon slice. If bacon slices are long, cut them in half so each piece wraps once and a little more around the meatball.
- Roll the bacon tightly around the meatball.
3. Cook
- Heat a little oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Brown the bacon-wrapped meatballs on all sides until the bacon is crisp and golden.
- Transfer the pan to a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) and cook for 10 minutes to finish cooking through.
- If your pan is not oven-safe, transfer meatballs to a baking tray and cook in the oven.
4. Serve
- Serve warm as an appetizer or main dish. In the photo, they are paired with parsnip purée and red wine sauce.
- These meatballs reheat well and are also delicious at room temperature.
💡 Tips
- Using lean meat ensures a tender texture, while the bacon wrapping locks in moisture during cooking.
- Ground coriander and allspice lend a subtle aromatic warmth, balancing the richness of bacon.
- Adjust seasoning before shaping by cooking a small test meatball.
🎉 Perfect For
- Holiday dinners and festive gatherings
- Elegant appetizers or comforting main courses
- Pairing with root vegetable purées and rich sauces
📝 Final Thoughts
These festive bacon-wrapped meatballs strike the perfect balance between juicy, tender meat and crispy, flavorful bacon. Their refined spice profile and versatile serving options make them a crowd-pleaser for any occasion — ideal for holiday celebrations or a special family meal.