Chuck and the First Peoples' Kitchen

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Boreal Spiced Meatballs with Glazed Rutabaga

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
  • ½ pound ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup freshly grated pecorino cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon ground juniper berries
  • 1 teaspoon dried crushed spruce tips
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

Rutabaga

  • 2 medium rutabagas, peeled and cut into wedges
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh cracked black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ¼ bunch of curly parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. In a large bowl, add the onion, garlic, beef, pork, breadcrumbs, pecorino cheese, egg, juniper, spruce tips, sumac, salt, pepper, parsley, and rosemary.
  3. Mix everything until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  4. Wet your hands slightly and form the mixture into meatballs about 2 inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until they are browned and cooked through.
  5. While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the rutabaga. Using the same pan as the meatballs, place it back on medium-high heat and carefully add the rutabaga wedges.
  6. Cook until lightly browned on one side then flip each piece over and brown the other side. Add the chicken stock, salt, and a few cracks of pepper, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the stock is reduced by about half and the rutabagas are soft.
  7. Add the butter and maple syrup and turn the heat up to high. Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened then remove from the heat.
  8. Plate the rutabaga wedges and arrange the meatballs all over. Drizzle everything with the maple syrup pan sauce and scissor the curly parsley over the top.