These porcupine meatballs baked in a rich sour cream and tomato sauce are a perfect mix of deliciousness and nostalgia!
Just a couple of days ago I wrote about my favourite childhood meal, the recipe that won me many friends including my parents-in-law! Curious?
Check out my best Vareniki recipe! And today I am sharing another childhood favourite, Porcupine Meatballs baked in sour cream and tomato sauce or as they are known in Russia ‘Tefteli’!
My mom made them a lot because there were never complaints when porcupine meatballs were for dinner. They are so delicious with mashed potatoes or if you want to go the real Russian way, try them with buckwheat kasha!
What are porcupine meatballs?
If you are not familiar with porcupine meatballs (hedgehog meatballs in Russian! :-)), you better listen up because you are going to LOVE them.
They are a combination of meat and rice and got their name because rice often pokes out of them and resembles porcupine quills! Predictably as a little girl I found it adorable!
What to serve with porcupine meatballs
Now there is this creamy tomato sauce. Let me clarify right away that I realise Russians don’t have a monopoly on ‘creamy tomato sauces’, admittedly they feature prominently in many cuisines but…this sauce does taste quite differently!
Most Russian and Ukrainian sauces have an onion and carrot base that gives them a slightly sweet and intensely delicious taste.
The onions and carrots are cooked in oil and butter for at least 15 minutes until their natural sugars are released and they become caramelised.
At that point you can just eat that stuff because it’s insanely good, so anything you add to the base is just bonus.
You aren’t doing too badly if that bonus is pureed plum tomatoes and sour cream. Who doesn’t love creamy stuff! Then there is dill. Dill finds its way in most Slavic dishes and they are better for it!
Well, let’s get to it and don’t forget to tell me how you liked them afterwards!
Porcupine meatballs are delicious with mashed potatoes. Don’t forget to make them!
Ingredients
For the porcupine meatballs
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1 lbs ground beef extra lean
- 1 lbs ground pork extra lean
- 1 tbsp fresh dill chopped
- 2 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
For the creamy tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 large carrot grated
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh dill chopped
- 1 X14 oz/400g canned plum tomatoes
- 1 cup/250 ml chicken stock
- 3 tbsp sour cream full fat
- salt
Instructions
- Cook rice in plenty of water the same way you would cook pasta until al dente. Rice shouldn't be too soft- about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a frying pan heat olive oil and butter. Cook onions and carrots over low heat for 10 minutes until tender.
- In a large bowl combine beef, pork, dill, onions, carrots, rice, salt and pepper.
- Roll meatballs, then brown them on all sides in a little oil but don't cook all the way through. Set aside.
- In a large and deep pan cook onions and carrots in olive oil and butter over low heat for at least 15 minutes until tender and caramelised, add minced garlic and cook for a few seconds while stirring, add dill, pureed plum tomatoes and stock, turn the heat up and bring to a boil.
- Take off the heat and stir in sour cream. Return the meatballs back to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. The sauce should nearly cover them. If it doesn't, add more stock.
- Bake covered at 300F/165C for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake 10 minutes longer. (If baked at a higher temperature sour cream tends to separate!)
cooked these bad boys up last night , have not used fresh dill before as i dont eat fish and haven’t had a recipe with this ingredient another delicious recipe 🙂
So glad you loved it, Amber!! 🙂
Amazing!!
My kids love these meatballs and I love the sauce! Thanks for sharing your childhood memory😊
My pleasure, Ann! I am happy to know they will become other kids’ childhood memory as well!
My husband is from Russia and I wanted to surprise him last night cooking something authentic. He was blown away! He said it tasted like his childhood. Thank you so much for this recipe! I cannot wait to make more of yours!!!!
Your comment seriously made my day, Marisa! So happy to hear this recipe brought happy memories to your husband! Please feel free to explore the Russian section of my website. 🙂
I am native Russian and I always enjoy Tefteli… I do make them a little different but this recipe is quite authentic and similar to what my family has been using for generations. Hope everyone enjoys this. Thank you
Making this delicious recipe tonight. Just seeing if you sprinkle cheese over the top in the last 10mins of cooking? So can’t wait to try it once it’s done.
I usually don’t add cheese to these meatballs but it’s an excellent idea, Haeli!
I can’t wait to make this more sophisticated version of a childhood favorite. You have become a favorite site for site for recipes. After trying your Beef Stroganoff recipe, which was delicious, I have pinned many more recipes to try. I enjoy the way “talk” the reader through each recipe. I look forward to many hours of cooking with you!
Thank you so much, Rachel! I really appreciate your feedback. I am thrilled you enjoy my recipes.
Thanks for great recipe!
I have a question. Is the rice used in this recipe either long-grain rice or short-grain rice?
because it is very hard to find long-grain rice in my country.
Hi Ted, it doesn’t really make a difference what rice you use in this recipe. I used basmati only because is what I had. Feel free to use any rice you like or can find.
Is it possible to make ahead and freeze?
Absolutely!
Hi! These were really good! I made them for my book club meeting in which we discussed A Gentleman in Moscow. They were a huge hit and I’ll be making them again.
So pleased to hear that, Liza. A friend of mine recently mentioned that book to me as well. Did you enjoy it?
Im excited to try this recipe. Can I make them with 2 pounds of ground beef? I don’t have any ground pork in the house.
Hi Abby, yes you can!
I found your site looking for a beef stroganoff recipe (which I was planning to make tomorrow) and reading thru the comments saw the link for other recipes. Figured I take a quick peek and a few seconds scrolling I literally took a double take and squealed. My Mom made a “circa 1970s recipe card” version of this growing up and it’s one of those that I’ve always wanted a “real recipe” for but had no idea where to even begin to look. Funny too, I was just talking to her about this, so now I’m headed to the store in the morning and making this for dinner for her and my Father. I’m like a freaking kid Christmas morning excited right now….lol. Thanks for sharing your recipes with the world 😁 (I’m still making the stroganoff this week though)
That is so awesome, Angelique! I hope my recipe lives up to your childhood memories and expectations. I know it’s a tough competition! 🙂
Looks so yummy! We are not big Dill people. Have you ever tried this recipe with any other spice?
Hi Tracy, parsley will work just as well here if you are not too fond of dill!
This looks like delicious comfort food to me! I will be trying this recipe soon! Thanks for sharing!
Let me know how you like it, Patricia!
Hi There, I was so surprised to see this recipe. My Mom use to make this in the pressure cooker when we were kids….actually one of my favourite meals to date. However, she would use the packaged “beef rice-a-roni” & it was “easy-peesey”. However, I will have to try your recipe to see if it comes up to my Mom’s standard….. Again, thx 4 posting..
AJ
I hope it’s a success, AJ! 🙂
ok youve twisted my arm, ive got sour cream in the fridge & i was looking for something to make – youve just grabbed my attention 🙂
mum used to make them but without the rice inside, it was always on the side 😛
Excellent! Let me know how you like them, Vera!!
as usual, like everything else on your site, they were excellent!
I am thrilled to hear that, Vera! I was just thinking of making them again but our summer weather wouldn’t let go. Still very warm in the middle of October!
Hi there, this would fit perfectly in Food on Friday under the tomato theme. Hope you bring it on over. Cheers from Carole’s Chatter
Hate to tell you what i have Done to your meatballs. But needs must. I used frozen turkey meatballs . So the sauce i never puree canned tomatoes too much trouble. Soaked rice in hot water and added with meatballs. Waiting to see how they are. Next time your way?