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Meatballs and Rice

The Urben Life Verified

Theurbenlife.com

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Meatballs and Rice

1 lb ground beef

¼ onionfinely chopped

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 cup long grain rice

2 cups water

1 cup beef or vegetable broth

1 cup unsweetened dairy free milk almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried thyme

2 tablespoons cornstarchextra if needed to thicken

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking oil. Assemble meatballs by combining ground beef, finely chopped onion, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Roll into bite-sized meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Remove from oven and set aside.

As the meatballs bake, cook rice in rice cooker or on the stovetop in a saucepan. Once cooked, fluff, and set aside.

Meanwhile, make the gravy by warming a large pan over low-medium heat. Whisk together broth, dairy free milk of choice, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Bring to a simmer and whisk in cornstarch. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until the gravy is thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve meatballs with gravy over rice. Enjoy warm!

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
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Tips & Tricks (5)

Bind Meatballs Properly 🔗
Mix cornstarch with the ground beef gently—it acts as a binder and keeps meatballs juicy by trapping moisture during baking, preventing them from becoming dense or crumbly.
Bloom Spices in Dairy-Free Milk 🌟
Heat the dairy-free milk briefly with garlic powder and thyme before making the gravy to unlock deeper flavor compounds and create a more cohesive, aromatic sauce.
Toast Rice Before Cooking 🍚
Lightly toast the dry rice in a hot pan for 1-2 minutes before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and prevent mushiness while keeping grains separated.
Don't Overwork the Meat Mixture 👐
Mix meatball ingredients with just your fingertips until barely combined—overworking develops gluten and creates tough, rubbery meatballs instead of tender ones.
Create Silky Gravy with Cornstarch Slurry 🥣
Mix cornstarch with cold dairy-free milk separately before whisking into the warm broth to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, velvety sauce that coats the meatballs beautifully.