Spiced Apple Butter Swedish Meatballs

YIELD: 24 servings

2 Tbsps. vegetable oil
2 cups minced red onion
2 lbs. pork sausage meat
2 lbs. ground beef
4 cups Panko bread crumbs
2 cups apple butter, divided
½ cup sour cream
4 large eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
2 tsps. ground black pepper
2 tsps. ground allspice
1 cup beef stock
¼ cup honey
1/8 tsp. ground red cayenne pepper

1.    Preheat oven to 400°F.
2.    In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; add onion and sauté for 45 minutes, until soft. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
3.    In large bowl, mix pork sausage, ground beef, bread crumbs, 1 cup apple butter, sour cream, eggs, salt, pepper and allspice. When it has cooled, mix in the onion mixture until evenly combined.
4.    Measure out meatballs into 1-oz. portions, using a #30 (2 Tbsp.) scoop. Roll tight balls and place them into 3 hotel pans sprayed with non-stick spray, close together, but not touching. You should have about 75-80 meatballs, about 25 per pan.
5.    Bake 15 minutes, stirring once during baking time. Shake pans to loosen meatballs.
6.    Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup of apple butter with beef broth, honey and cayenne pepper. Pour sauce over the top of the meatballs, making sure to coat each meatball, and return to oven for 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve warm (3 meatballs per serving, over rice or noodles if desired).

Recipe: Musselman’s/Knouse Foods