Pork U Pine Meatballs

These meatballs get their name from the way rice pokes out like porcupine quills as they bake. Mix raw rice directly into ground beef with chopped onions, roll into balls, and nestle them in a pan. Pour tomato sauce over everything and bake for an hour.

As the meatballs cook, the rice absorbs sauce and moisture from the meat, plumping up and turning tender. The result is juicy meatballs with built-in rice grains throughout.

Kitchen Tips

• Use raw rice: Don’t cook the rice first; it needs to absorb liquid from the sauce as it bakes
• Don’t pack too tight: Roll meatballs gently so they stay tender, not dense and tough
• Cover while baking: Keep the pan covered so rice cooks through without drying out