Recipe

MEATBALL SALAD with Cucumber "Pasta"

MEATBALL SALAD with Cucumber "Pasta"

Photo 1 of 3
by dymnyno

MEATBALL SALAD with Cucumber "Pasta"

Photo 2 of 3
by dymnyno

MEATBALL SALAD with Cucumber "Pasta"

Photo 3 of 3
by dymnyno

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Meatballs
    This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Canned Fish Recipe
  • Chef

    dymnyno's Notes: This is a light meatball recipe. I used ground veal and added some white anchovies to give it a little tang (you barely notice the anchovies). I use my favorite anchovies, Dinon, which are...

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Serves 6 as a first course

  1. Mix the veal, onions, cream, anchovies, egg, panko and thyme together.

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  2. Form into round meatballs.

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  3. Saute the meatballs in a little olive oil (enough so they don't stick). Set aside on paper towels. Or, you can bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

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  4. Julienne the cucumber...stop at the seeds. Or, use a vegetable peeler and make wide strips of "pasta".

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  5. Make the dressing. First, pour the cream into a bowl. Then add the lemon juice and whisk until it starts to thicken. Add the olive oil and the thyme and the pinch of salt and garlic powder and whisk.

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  6. Add the dressing to the cucumber strands and toss.

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  7. Plate the cucumber "pasta" and then put the meatballs on top. Sprinkle with chopped chives and a pinch of sea salt.

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29 Comments on MEATBALL SALAD with Cucumber "Pasta"

Photo_squirrel Reply

p.s. what if you took the vitello tonnato riff one more step and pureed some italian tuna with your lemon sauce and thinned it a little more?!

Photo_squirrel Reply

dymn, you are one hot ticket. I lobe it when a creative chef like you- takes a familiar dish and tweaks it 180 degrees! your julienne tool is your mandoline, yes? really terrific photo of the cuke linguini.thnx so much for the inspiration!

Img_2764 Reply

I do this with zucchini and yellow squash all the time, but never thought of using cucumber. Brilliant!

Img_2764 Reply

I freaking love this.

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

thanks!

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

I noticed that my zucchini and cucumber look alike. Your zucchini strips are gorgeous...they look like beautiful ribbons!

Copy_of_me Reply

I love this newest picture you posted...I need to have some meatballs served this way!

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

I just uploaded a pic of the meatballs with a wider cucumber "pasta" , so if you don't have a julienne tool and don't want to risk your fingers with a mandoline, you can use a peeler and make wide "pasta".

Copy_of_me Reply

Excellent! They look like the Grilled Zuchinni Ribbons I have posted...only off the skewer!

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Thanks - this I can manage - looks lovely!

2-11_016 Reply

The cucumber, lemon, thyme, and cream sound really great with the veal~like a summer version of a winter stew. I'm curious about the white anchovies~are they less salty than regular anchovies? And are they in a can or a jar?

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Dinon white anchovies (available from Whole Foods) are not real salty like canned anchovies. The are like boquerones from Spain. They come in a plastic container. The anchovies are in a mixture of oil, vinegar and spices...delicious just by themselves and not as overpowering as "regular" anchovies.

2-11_016 Reply

Thanks! I'll get some next time I'm out, so I can try them by themselves, and in your recipe : )

Img_1958 Reply

Yum...veal and white anchovies - I know this must be delicious! I love the cucumber "pasta" too. I have had my eye on a julienne tool since your fantastic zuccaghetti, I may have to get one now!

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only Reply

Mmm, yum, yum, yum! This looks soooo good. What a great, light take on meatballs. Brilliant. ;o)

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Thanks! AJ I brought home an artisan pork chop and I am making your recipe to top it tonight.

Copy_of_me Reply

I love your "gadget", thanks for sharing another use for it!

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

So do I!! Thanks, Mary, for another beautiful recipe (including the picture!) to use the gadget with! I don't eat veal, but I love your recipe but I thought of going with lamb (I know, I know. I eat a baby sheep, but not a baby cow. I do what I can :-)). How do you think the flavors, like the white anchovies, would go with lamb?

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

ChezSuzanne I am not sure that lamb would work...it is very sweet compared to veal...I think that the lamb and the anchovies would compete too much.

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

My instincts say you're right. I've not cooked a lot with anchovies and wasn't sure. Thanks for the quick response!

Monkeys Reply

I want this with zuccaghetti!

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Thanks, the julienned cucumber is really great with these meatballs.

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Thanks Liz!! Always can count on a positive comment from you...that's just the wonderful person that you are!

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Does this mean we have an invite to a free meatball supper ?

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Just get up here!!!! I will make something other than veal.

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Is it OK to say I haven't eaten veal for more than the average lifetime of most chefs here, but that I still admire your recipe? It looks simple and simply superb, your style written all over it. Brava and thumbs up. ps Got to try those white anchovies...

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Thanks...but that first pic was giving me a headache!

Ab_sum Reply

It is more like an impressionist painting this way. Sounds quite scrumptious, perfectly balanced.

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Sorry that my pic is out of focus (it makes me dizzy to look at it!)...I will add a better one tomorrow.

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