Photon Torpedoes or Molten Meat Balls

[azkitch]

For the Pulte BBQ this weekend in the Phoenix area, Mike, the organizer of the azbarbeque events--he's a master at it!--has a midnight Appetizer Extravaganza. This year we had Elk Backstrap as well as the usual assortment of ABTs, wings, and chili. Being a southwestern desert rat pepperhead, I made meat balls, but with a twist. I made Molten Meat Balls, aka Photon Torpedoes. Some like it HOT!

2 1/2 lb. burger meat. I used 1 3/4# 90/10 and the rest 80/20.
7 medium to large orange Habaneros; roasted, seeded and minced. Be sure to lick your fingers, but only after you wipe your eyes. NOT!
4 Serranos; roasted, seeded and minced
1 1/2 tsp. Cumin seed
1 tsp. Coriander
1 tsp. Celery Seed
Above seeds were pan roasted and ground together.
a drizzle of Sesame Oil--about 1 T.
2 tsp. Tony Chachere's Spice 'n' Herbs mixture--the blue topped can.
1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs
1 large egg
Drizzle mixture with approximately 1 Tbs. of Sesame oil
2 Tbs. of Mrs. Renfro's Habanero/Mango salsa. Mrs. R's Habanero Salsa shouldn't create a perceptible taste change.
2 lbs. of Maple Bacon

Smoked for almost 2 hours @ 250-275, crisped with an afterburner/flamethrower. I can't wait to see that picture!
This is the recipe as I presented Friday night... Mix it, form 'em, wrap 'em, and smoke 'em. I put 6 on a skewer. Individual toothpicks are another option. Whatever. I cut the bacon in half, made meatballs with a small ice cream type scoop.

 

[beer-b-q]

Those look great...

What is that old saying, "Damn the Torpedoes Full Speed Ahead"...

 

[fire it up]

Sounds good, hot but good.
Like the name photon torpedoes but I am a fan of Star Trek.
I think molten meatballs is a good name but would be even better suited if the center of the meat contained some cheese or something that would actually melt out.
Just my couple of pennies.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.

 

[alx]

For some reason that really cracked me up....

Those torpedo/meatballs look awesome........

:PDT_Armataz_01_ 34:

 

[azkitch]

Thank y'all. Yep, most of 'em were pretty spicy! I was dancin' and hoppin' around 'cuz it was JUST as hot as I had wanted. Then there were a few that had virtually no heat, from the sounds of things. Or my daughter has no capsaicin sensors. I thought about the cheese later, but that'd be a real PIA to make. Maybe not. Cubed cheese...hmmm

 

[meateater]

Cant go wrong with bacon. Looking good!

 

[fire it up]

Bingo, that is the way to go. Flatten the mix out in your hand and mold around the cheese or just push the cube into the middle of the meat and seal the hole up.
Would suggest some pepper jack but with all of that heat in there that cheese would probably be "cool".
If you are lucky enough you can find habanero jack cheese, that stuff is goooooood........
Wondering, if you froze some small balls of a hot sauce mixture then wrapped the meat around it how well a more liquidy center would hold up during the smoke...Hmmm.....

 

[bassman]

Looks great! It's not hard to get the cheese in the center. Just flatten the ball somewhat and place a cube of cheese in the center. Then fold the meat around the cheese.

 

[got14u]

I don't mean to high jack this but what division at pulte do you work? I worked there for 3 years on the west side of phoenix and then all over doing lumber take offs and changes to certain models along with teaching classes for the PBS supers....Small world

 

[azkitch]

Pulte sponsors a BBQ contest/balloon show event, with Mike Reimann, www.azbarbeque.com frontman as the organizer of the competition. We had 41 teams this year, and the comp is held at the community center at Sun City Festival, way WAY west--15 miles west of Surprise. KCBS teams ranked 1, 2, and 3 were there vying for Team Of the Year honors. #3 team, Smoky D's of Iowa was GC, and went from 3 to 1 in the TOY standings. And now there is about 15 points separating the 3 teams. We also had the American Royal Invitational Champs out, and the #7 team, as well as our own Rhythm 'n' Que who rank 14 or 16. There was some amazing talent cooking this weekend. I can't describe how wonderful the air smelled Saturday morning at 6:00 AM. Wow.

 

[got14u]

LOL...that was my track that I started when there was absolutely nothing out there. I actually lived do west on sunvalley park way where it hits I-10....good company. They have wanted me to come back but I will wait until after I finish college. wish I was there. I'm sure some friends of mine will be there. take pics and post them up.

 

[azkitch]

Sorry--this past weekend. My camera had dead batteries. Pics from the midnight extravaganza are here, you may need to join, but it's free and no extra e-mail involved.
http://www.azbarbeque.com/forums/200...os-from-event/