Irish Stew Meatballs - Gluten-Free
Originally Posted March 28, 2012. Updated 1/24/2021
Gluten-Free Irish Stew Meatballs - These flavourful meatballs are always a hit! Make more than you think you'll need!
So I've shared my Best Shepherd's Pie Ever, and the St. Patrick's Day Pizza... are you ready for another of my "round food that is at least vaguely Irish themed" recipes from our St. Pi-trick's Day Party?
I love Irish Stew. When done properly, it's such a simple dish, but with a lot of good, "clean" flavor.
It's a hearty meal that really lets the individual flavors take the spotlight: Perfectly cooked carrots and parsnips, at just the right level of tenderness... fresh parsley, good meat. Yum!
As Irish stew may be, well, Irish, there's nothing "round" about it, aside from the bowl it's served in.
Irish Stew Meatballs
I decided I'd create a meatball, themed around the flavors of Irish stew.
Oh, these were fabulous... and pretty much flew out of the crock pot they were served from!
The carrots, parsnips, and parsley added a ton of flavor to the meatballs, the texture was great, and it all came together perfectly.
While these were specifically designed to be gluten free (though you'd NEVER know it, to taste them!), feel free to substitute "normal" crackers and flour, if gluten isn't a concern.
My Gluten-Free Cookbooks
Also, if you're interested in gluten-free cooking and baking, you should definitely check out my gluten-free cookbooks: Beyond Flour: A Fresh Approach to Gluten Free Cooking & Baking, and the sequel... Beyond Flour 2. You can order them right here on my website, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller.
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Before you chow down, be sure to take some pics of your handiwork! If you Instagram it, be sure to tag me - @CelebrationGenerationCA - or post it to My Facebook Page - so I can cheer you on!
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Well, the published nonsense, anyway!
Enjoy my gluten-free Irish Stew Meatballs!
Irish Stew Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 Carrot
- 1 Parsnip
- 1 Small Onion
- 2 Cloves Garlic Pressed or minced
- 1 ½ lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1 lb Ground Pork
- ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley
- 2 Large Eggs
- ⅔ Cup Finely Crushed Gluten-Free Crackers I used Schar
- ¼ Cup Potato Starch
- 1 teaspoon Ground Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ Cup Vegetable Oil
Gravy
- 2 Cups Beef Broth
- 2 tablespoon Potato Starch
- ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley
- Salt
- Ground Pepper
Instructions
Meatballs
- Grate carrot, parsnip, and onion (I love my food processor!), place in a nonstick pan. Heat over medium, stirring frequently, until vegetables start to “sweat” out their moisture. Add garlic, continue to cook until liquid disappears. Remove from heat, transfer to a mixing bowl to cool slightly.
- Once vegetables are cool enough to handle, add beef, pork, parsley, eggs, cracker crumbs, potato starch, pepper, and salt. Using your (clean!) hands, gently mix everything together until it’s all well incorporated into the mix. Be gentle- you want to just mix, not squeeze and compress it much!
- Shape meat mixture into meatballs – about 1 ½″ in diameter. You’ll end up with about 60 meatballs.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan. Once hot, brown meatballs a few at a time, turning every so often to ensure even browning. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate as you finish each batch.
Gravy
- In a large pot, whisk together beef broth and potato starch until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add parsley, salt, and pepper, continue to cook – whisking frequently – until thickened. Add meatballs, continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- If making these for a party, you can cook the gravy in a smaller pot. Add the browned meatballs to a crock pot, pour the thickened gravy over top, and heat for at least 30 minutes on high before serving. Turn heat down to low or “Warm” while serving.
Nutrition
I made these tonight for Saint Patrick's day supper and they were a huge hit...even with a 7 and 4 year old.
Awesome! Always a good thing to hear!
Can you make these completely in a slow cooker?
I wouldn't, the meatballs really should be browned first.
what do you mean by 1/4 cup potato starch in the recipe? I'd really love to try this recipe! I just came across your blog and I can't wait to keep checking it out!
I'm not sure I follow..?
I've never used potato starch in a recipe before, so I didn't know what it was. Found it at Trader Joes.