Double-Garlic Cast Iron Meatballs

(paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, rustic)
Double Garlic Cast Iron Meatballs (paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, rustic) Whole-Fed Homestead

I’m pretty sure that these meatballs could cure the plague.
Whatever it is that ails you, these meatballs will fix it.

These super-hero meatballs are special in another way: they go with everything. A universal meatball! They aren’t Italian, not Greek, and certainly not Swedish. But they could be! Serve them with marinara, with tzatziki, or with brown gravy. Put them on noodles, on a cool cucumber salad, or on a pile of braised cabbage. These meatballs, they’ll adapt.

And they’re potent- full of life and full of bold garlic flavor (consider that a warning!).
These really are for garlic-lovers!

Garlic not only tastes great, but it boosts your health, and especially your immune system- in major way! One large study found that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of colds by 63% (1). The average length of cold symptoms was also reduced by 70%, from 5 days in placebo to just 1.5 days in the garlic group (1). Another study found that a high dose of garlic extract can reduce the number of days sick with cold or flu by 61% (2).

Somebody even wrote a whole book on the history and lore of garlic, plus the science behind why it’s so good for you! Adding this book to my wish list. My nerdy wish list…


Double Garlic Cast Iron Meatballs (paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, rustic) Whole-Fed Homestead

Garlic Likes and Dislikes
For those of you who are new to the world of using fresh garlic:

Fresh garlic dislikes being stored in the fridge. Keep it in a cool, dry place, like in the pantry in this adorable garlic cellar.

garlic cellar storage

Garlic likes to add its incredible flavor to whatever you’re cooking- and in order to coax the most flavor out of it, use a microplane to finely grate it. This is the only way I prep garlic!

micoplace grater for fresh garlic

Garlic likes to linger. Use this Steel Rub Away Bar to remove the garlic smell from your hands. Also works for onions, fish, and other kitchen smells. <– Great stocking stuffer or gift for the cook who has everything!

stainless steel bar for hand smells

Double-Garlic Cast Iron Meatballs Recipe

2 pounds ground beef
1.5 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, grated
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 large egg

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Spread the ground beef on the bottom of a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, dried parsley, garlic powder, grated fresh garlic, and chopped onions. Crack the egg on top and use your hands to mix everything together- I find a squishing/squeezing motions works best.

Use a spring-loaded scoop (3 Tbs) to portion out meatballs and then roll them into balls between the palms of your hands. Nestle them into a lightly-greased cast iron pan so that the meatballs are all tucked in and just touching each other.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through. Serve with marinara, tzatziki, or brown gravy!

References:

  1. Supplementation with aged garlic extract improvise both NK and T-Cel function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun;31(3):337-44. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.11.019. Epub 2012 Jan 24.
  2. Preventing the common cold with garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2001 Jul-Aug;18(4):189-93.

Want more from the homestead?

Roasted Ranch Cabbage 2     Beef and Kale Stroganoff    Why Bother Homesteading

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