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hawiian ham balls

(1 RATING)
36 Pinches 11 Photos
colleenlucky7 avatar
La Crosse, WI
Updated on Aug 28, 2016

This was an old family recipe from my great grandmother Ellen Kay Sullivan, it was changed a little over the years by my grandmother Mabel Kennedy Sullivan and my mother Patricia Salzer Sullivan and myself (Colleen Sullivan Sowa). This is a fun recipe that is packed with flavors and textures! You can make it spicier or less spicy according to your liking. The first time we make any recipe, we follow directions, but after that... we change what we want! My grandchildren love making this recipe... and eating it...! We hope you enjoy this recipe... and remember to Play With Your Food!

prep time 40 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Stove Top
yield 130 - 150 meatballs (depending on size)

Ingredients

  • MEATBALLS
  • 1 can spam, mashed
  • 2 pounds ham, ground
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound pork sausage
  • 1 - sleeve saltine crackers (crushed to crumbs)
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 large eggs
  • SAUCE
  • 2 tablespoons oil (butter or margarine work too)
  • 1 - 2 cups carrots, sliced
  • 3 - 4 sticks celery, sliced
  • 1 large onion, julienned
  • 2 large bell peppers
  • 2 cans (20 ounces each) pineapple chucnks, including juice
  • 1 jar (14 - 18 ounces) apricot jam
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 cup cold water (to mix corn starch into)
  • ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard (added to sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (added to sauce)

How To Make hawiian ham balls

  • Step 1
    Mix together all of the meatball ingredients. (I use my hands, use a spoon if you want...)
  • Step 2
    Form mixture into about 1 or 2 inch diameter meatballs. *** The kids love shaping the meatballs and placing them on the baking sheets. *** you will get around 130 - 150 meatballs depending on size and consistency of size.
  • Step 3
    Cook Rice according to package and the amount you want. Leave covered until needed. While rice is cooking, start cooking meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees on baking sheets for 20 minutes. OR go to step #4
  • Step 4
    Fry meatballs on medium-high heat with about 3 TBS of cooking oil. Rolling them to cook all over. Don't over crowd them in pan. Remove them to a platter or a baking sheet as they are cooked. When all are done, Start the Stir Fry sauce.
  • Step 5
    *** You can cook this as a meatloaf by baking at 350 degrees for 1 hour maybe a bit longer depending on your oven.
  • Step 6
    Start with the carrots in oil, stirring about 2 minutes before adding the celery, stirring about 2 minutes before adding the onion 2 minutes, then the bell peppers. Stirring until almost cooked.
  • Step 7
    Add remaining sauce ingredients, EXCEPT the cornstarch mixture. Bring to the boil, then add cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until sauce is cooked and thickened. *** if you like a thinner sauce, just add a little water. *** you don't have to add the corn starch, but you still need the water. Adding the cornstarch thickens the sauce and helps it to cling to the meatballs.
  • Step 8
    Add pineapple, including the juice!
  • Step 9
    Add meatballs into the pan with sauce ingredients. Coat with the sauce.
  • Step 10
    Serve over rice. *** If making for an appetizer, skip the rice and put all on a skewer or toothpick. *** You can skip the veggie part of the sauce if you want to make only the meatballs and pineapple.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

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