Minced hedgehog dish. Meat hedgehogs with rice: healthy and satisfying food recipes for children and adults

If you are both a conservative and an experimenter, be sure to make “hedgehogs” from minced meat and rice. There are four arguments in favor of this dish.

Taste . Juicy minced meat and neutral rice are an advantageous combination that is used in many recipes. The fragrant and delicate gravy perfectly complements the picture.
Availability . All ingredients are relatively inexpensive and are almost always available in the refrigerator. We can say that this is the standard “grocery basket” of the average family.
Benefit . The dish consists of healthy ingredients and is prepared in a “healthy” way. Therefore, it is suitable for feeding the whole family, including small children.
Two in one . “Hedgehogs” are a main dish and a side dish at the same time. Thus, you save not only cooking time, but also space in the refrigerator.

A little about the main ingredients

Minced meat and rice are the two main ingredients for hedgehogs. The taste, texture and nutritional properties of the finished dish depend on the quality of these products.

What are the benefits of the main food of Asians?

There is a theory that the secret to Asians' longevity lies in their diet. They eat rice almost every day. Moreover, in some languages the words “rice” and “food” sound absolutely identical. This cereal is vital for humans, because it brings great benefits to the body.

Normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Rice is well tolerated by people suffering from colitis, gastritis, and dysbacteriosis. Cereal cleanses the intestines and stimulates digestion. It is also used to stop diarrhea.
Supports the heart and blood vessels. With regular consumption of rice, blood circulation is normalized and blood pressure surges stop. The product also prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques.
Activates brain activity. Including healthy grains in your diet can improve memory and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Cleanses the body. Rice has pronounced absorbent properties. It absorbs all waste and toxins, removing them from the body naturally. This same property helps maintain oral hygiene.
Stimulates appetite. This quality helps the body recover after serious illness or prolonged fasting.
Promotes muscle growth. Rice contains a lot of protein, which is necessary for athletes and people with physical labor.
Prevents joint diseases. This is achieved due to the ability of rice to remove excess salt from the body.
Improves appearance. Rice is rich in B vitamins, which accelerate tissue renewal and repair.
Lowers body temperature. Useful for colds, as a diaphoretic.

Brown rice has the most pronounced healing properties. It undergoes minimal industrial processing, so it retains the most beneficial substances.

Which minced meat to choose

For normal functioning of the body and good health, animal protein is necessary. The meat will be equally tasty and healthy both in its pure form and as part of dishes. The table shows characteristics of the types of minced meat that are best suited for hedgehogs.

Table - Nutritional value and benefits of various types of minced meat

Product	Calorie content, Kcal/100 g	Fat content,%	Beneficial features
Ground beef	187	Up to 41	- Strengthens the heart muscle; - improves blood composition; - maintains normal stomach acidity; - strengthens bones; - accelerates metabolism; - stabilizes the nervous system; - improves memory
Minced pork	259	Up to 52	- Stabilizes the nervous system; - stimulates the functioning of the reproductive system; - normalizes sleep; - increases physical endurance; - strengthens bones; - fights chronic fatigue
Chicken mince	190	Up to 20	- Strengthens the immune system; - restores strength after serious illness or surgery; - normalizes metabolism; - improves digestion; - improves the functional state of tissues; - promotes muscle growth; - prevents heart and vascular diseases
Ground turkey	84	Up to 5	- Stimulates the process of hematopoiesis; - accelerates metabolism; - reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol; - accelerates cell regeneration; - stimulates brain activity; - supports the endocrine system; - relieves the symptoms of osteochondrosis; - slows down the aging of the body; - stimulates the production of endorphins

The period of fasting is not a reason to give up your favorite hedgehogs. Cook them with minced fish and without sour cream. Hake, pollock, cod, tilapia go well with rice and tomato.

10 rules for a delicious dish

Having become acquainted with the recipe for “hedgehogs” made from minced meat with rice in tomato-sour cream sauce, you will probably want to repeat this culinary masterpiece. To make the dish more delicious each time, remember and put into practice ten culinary tricks.

Prepare minced meat yourself. Being confident in the quality of the meat, you will be calm about the taste and safety of the dish. If you trust a store-bought semi-finished product, take the time to put it through a meat grinder again or beat it with a blender to eliminate the presence of large fragments of meat.
Choose long grain rice. It doesn't boil as much as the round one. In addition, it is more consistent with the “prickly” concept of the dish. Pay attention to the Basmati variety.
Wet your hands in water. This will prevent the minced meat from sticking to your palms while sculpting the “hedgehogs”.
Two tablespoons is enough. This amount of minced meat is optimal for making one ball. Firstly, you can eat such a meatball, and secondly, the meat will cook evenly and will not lose its juiciness.
Prepare the cereal. To prevent the rice from absorbing all the gravy, soak it in cold water for a couple of hours.
Replace sour cream with cream. This will make the sauce richer in texture and smoother in flavor. From an everyday dish it will turn into a festive one.
Don't bulk up with rice. Unleavened cereal will overwhelm the taste of meat and sauce. If you want more “hedgehogs”, add grated potatoes or finely shredded cabbage to the minced meat.
Prepare surprise balloons. You can put a cube of processed cheese or some fried mushrooms inside.
Combine minced meats. Combine beef with pork. And add a little lard to the minced poultry meat. This is a guarantee of the juiciness of the dish.
Beat it well. Having molded the ball, throw it forcefully from palm to palm. The workpiece will become denser and will not fall apart during heating.

Minced meat “hedgehogs” with rice: 5 ideas

Based on your taste preferences and “technical capabilities”, you can choose the appropriate recipe for yourself. Depending on the cooking technology, the texture and aroma of the dish may change. In any case, it will be tasty, satisfying and healthy.

In the oven

Peculiarities . Tender, aromatic and airy “hedgehogs” are made from minced meat with rice and gravy in the oven. The meatballs melt in your mouth, and the rich sauce and cheese crust complete the overall picture of the dish.

You will need:

400 g minced meat;
300 g rice;
two onions;
carrot;
two tablespoons of sour cream;
the same amount of tomato paste;
egg;
100 g cheese.

Preparation

Mix rice, minced meat, egg and finely chopped onion. Add salt and spices at your discretion.
Form balls with a diameter of 6-7 cm from the resulting mass. The size of the “hedgehogs” can be changed at your discretion.
Lightly fry the balls in vegetable oil until they set and acquire a crust. You can do without frying, but then the meatballs will not hold their shape and will “spread” during baking.
Place the pieces in one layer in a baking dish, greased with oil.
Grate the carrots and cut the second onion into thin half rings.
Combine vegetables with sour cream and tomato paste.
Spread the filling over the balls and add water to the mold. There should be enough liquid so that the rice and meat balls are two-thirds covered.
Cover the top with foil and place in a preheated oven. At 180°C the dish is cooked in approximately 40 minutes. The time may vary up or down, depending on the size of the hedgehogs.
Remove the foil and sprinkle the dish with grated cheese. Place in the oven for a couple more minutes until the fermented milk product melts.

Instead of water, you can use meat or vegetable broth. This will make the taste of the dish brighter and richer.

In a saucepan

Peculiarities . Minced “hedgehogs” with rice in a pan are a great option if you need to quickly prepare lunch for the whole family. This dish has a particularly rich amount of flavorful gravy. You can generously flavor a side dish with it or dip fresh bread into it.

You will need:

500 g minced meat;
half a glass of rice;
two onions;
egg;
three large tomatoes;
carrot;
a tablespoon of flour;
the same amount of sugar;
three glasses of boiling water.

Preparation

Cook the rice until it expands slightly in size but remains firm.
Mix cooled rice, minced meat, egg and finely chopped onion. Season to your liking.
Roll the resulting mass into small “balls” with a diameter of 4-5 cm and place them on the bottom of the pan. Balls can be laid in two or three layers.
Grate the carrots and chop the second onion. Lightly fry the vegetables.
Puree the tomatoes in a blender or pass through a sieve. Place in the pan with the vegetables.
Add flour and heat for another half a minute, then pour boiling water into the pan, while stirring the vegetable mass.
When the gravy boils, add sugar, salt and spices. Boil for a couple more minutes and pour the sauce over the previously prepared “koloboks”.
Simmer the dish for half an hour.

To ensure that the hedgehogs heat up evenly, use a pan with thick walls. The ideal utensil for preparing the dish is a duck pan.

In a slow cooker

Peculiarities . Technological progress has affected all areas of human life, including cooking. If you are planning to cook “hedgehogs” from minced meat with rice, then doing this in a slow cooker will be especially easy. Diet meatballs are steamed well in the bowl of a hermetically sealed device, making them soft and tender.

You will need:

500 g minced meat;
half a glass of rice;
onion;
carrot;
bell pepper;
half a glass of sour cream;
two tablespoons of flour;
two glasses of boiling water.

Preparation

Grate the carrots, chop one onion and cut the pepper into strips. Fry them in the multicooker in the “Baking” mode for 15 minutes without closing the lid.
Meanwhile, combine the minced meat with rice and finely chopped onion. Season the mixture.
Combine sour cream with tomato paste and water.
Form the rice-meat mixture into balls and place in a bowl on top of the vegetables. Pour the sauce on top.
Cook for one and a half hours in the “Stew” mode.

To make the “hedgehogs” even more tender, try adding not raw, but fried onions to the minced meat. It is important that the vegetable oil from the frying pan does not get into the rice and meat mass.

In a frying pan

Peculiarities . Minced “hedgehogs” with rice and gravy in a frying pan turn out juicy and satisfying. Flavorful meat, crispy crust and rich sauce are what you need for a satisfying family meal. This dish is best served with tender mashed potatoes or a refreshing vegetable salad.

You will need:

500 g minced meat;
100 g rice;
onion;
two cloves of garlic;
egg;
three tablespoons of tomato paste;
half a glass of sour cream;
the same amount of water;
carrot;
a bunch of parsley;
flour.

Preparation

Cook the rice until half cooked.
Grate the carrots and finely chop the onion and garlic with a knife.
Combine the minced meat with rice, vegetables, chopped herbs and egg. Add salt and spices at your discretion.
Form balls from the resulting mixture, roll in flour and fry on all sides until crispy.
Mix sour cream, tomato and water. Add some salt and spices.
Pour the sauce over the hedgehogs, cover the frying pan with a lid and simmer until half of the liquid has evaporated.

If you overdo it with water and the sauce does not thicken, remove the “hedgehogs” from the pan and add a little starch to the gravy. In a matter of seconds it will acquire a pleasant consistency.

In the microwave

Peculiarities . You can also cook “hedgehogs” from minced meat with rice in the microwave. You will get a complete and tasty dish.

You will need:

250 g minced meat;
120 g rice;
onion;
half a large or one small carrot;
egg;
two glasses of water;
a tablespoon of tomato paste.

Preparation

Finely chop the onion and grate the carrots.
Fry half the onion and carrots until transparent and place in a deep dish. It must be designed specifically for the microwave.
Combine meat with rice, remaining onion, egg and seasonings.
Form into balls and place them in the pan on top of the vegetables.
Dissolve the tomato paste in water, season lightly and pour the contents of the mold.
Cover the pan with a microwave-safe lid and place in the oven.
Heat the dish at maximum power for ten minutes.
Turn the meatballs over and return to the oven for five minutes.

If after the first round of heating all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice, add another glass of water with a spoonful of tomato paste to the pan. Otherwise, the hedgehogs will burn.

If you don’t have time for everyday cooking, and you prefer to stock up on frozen semi-finished products in advance, the recipe for making “hedgehogs” from minced meat with rice is just what you need. It is important that the workpiece does not need to be defrosted. Simply place the balls in a greased pan, pour in the sauce and bake in the oven or microwave.

Meat hedgehogs

Ingredients:

Minced meat - 700 g

Onions - 1-2 pcs.

Rice (basmati) - 100 g

Spices (salt, pepper) - to taste

1. You need to soak the rice for 2 hours, then drain the water so that it dries a little, and you can start mincing.

2. Grind our minced meat and onions in a meat grinder, add spices to taste, then form round meatballs, roll each one in rice and place in a steamer.

3. We set the timer for 40 minutes and watch how, after some time, the grains of rice begin to rise and you get real thorns.

"Hedgehog" meatballs

To prepare you needed:

Beef - 250 g

Pork - 250 g

Rice - 150 g

Carrots - 5 pcs.

Onions - 8 pcs. (average)

Potatoes - 4 pcs. (small)

Egg - 3 pcs.

Tomato paste - 100 g

Flour - 2 tbsp. l. (with a slide)

Vegetable oil - 100 g

Spices (salt + pepper + dried dill + hops-suneli + etc.) - to taste

Water - 1.5 l

Cooking method:

1. We wash the meat, cut it into small pieces, grind it in a meat grinder until minced meat is formed, mix until smooth, add salt and pepper, break three chicken eggs into it and mix everything again. For 1 kilogram of minced meat, I add about 2 teaspoons of salt (without a slide), and 1 teaspoon of pepper. But be careful, the salt, alas, varies in salinity. Therefore, after the first spoonful of salt, it is better to stir and taste a piece of minced meat “on the tongue for salt,” and then, if necessary, add more salt.

2. Wash and peel carrots and 2 pcs. (we leave the remaining 3 for gravy) grate on a fine grater. Pour it into the minced meat and mix everything.

3. We also wash the potatoes (4 small pieces), peel them and grate them on a fine grater. Also add to the minced meat and mix everything well. Many people do not add potatoes, but my relatives and friends who have tried this dish think that it tastes better, and the meatballs turn out soft and very juicy.

4. Onions, peeled, washed, and 4 pcs. (the rest will be used for gravy) cut into small pieces and add to the minced meat. To prevent your eyes from stinging, cut the onion in half, pour hot water over it, and then chop it. Most recipes indicate that the onions need to be fried, but I believe that we don’t need extra fat, it (the onions) will be cooked well during the process of baking the meatballs.

5. We rinse the rice (several times) in cold water until the water that you drain from it becomes clear, without starchy whiteness. Fill it with hot water (there should be 3 times more water than rice, i.e. 1 glass of rice and 3 glasses of water), cook it over low heat for 10 minutes, drain it in a colander, rinse with cold running water, drain off excess water ( let it sit in a colander for about 5 minutes) and add it to the minced meat. Mix everything.

It is better to undercook the rice, as it will still be simmered inside the meatball during baking.

6. To minimize the cooking time of the entire dish, I advise you to start the entire procedure with cooking rice before you start cutting vegetables, since if you do it first, then during the cooking period you will have enough time to fuss with vegetables.

7. Well, we have reached the finish line))). The minced meat is ready. We make meatballs from it. The size of the meatballs should be no larger than a girl’s fist, since if they are large (tall), then when baked in a baking pan, they will not be completely covered by the sauce and they will dry out.

Small advice, so that the minced meat does not stick to your hands when making meatballs, your hands should be wetted in cold water before each “pinch” of the minced meat.

8 . Add a small amount of vegetable oil to a hot frying pan, bring it to a boil, and place the “raw” meatballs on it. Fry on all sides until the meat is “stuck” and “browned.” And then put it on a baking sheet.

9. As an option, for lovers of “healthy” cuisine, you can not fry the meatballs, but immediately place them on a baking sheet, and you should not grease the baking sheet beforehand, since the meatballs themselves will give off a fatty juice. The only BUT is that they will not acquire a golden tint after cooking, but will be more faded than fried.

Moreover, both options have the right to exist; it certainly won’t be worse. But at home we like browned meatballs better)))

10. It's time for the vegetables for watering.

11. Grate the remaining carrots (3 pieces) on a coarse grater.

12. Onion (4 pcs.) Cut into half rings.

13. Distribute the chopped onion and grated carrots evenly over the meatballs placed on a baking sheet.

14. Preparing the gravy.

15. In a glass of cold water, dilute 2 tbsp. spoons of flour until a homogeneous white liquid mass is formed. Boil the rest of the water, reduce the heat, add 100 grams of tomato paste to it, mix, slowly, stirring constantly, pour the flour mixture into the tomato water, salt, pepper, add spices to taste and cook, stirring, the gravy.

Recipe for Hedgehogs with rice

Ingredients:

500 g beef

300 g pork

Garlic clove

400 g sour cream

2 spoons of tomato paste

Large onion

0.75 cups rice

Pepper, salt, herbs

Cooking method:

1. Grind the meat and onion in a meat grinder. You can also use already purchased minced meat. Add finely chopped garlic to the minced meat, break the eggs and season with spices.

2. Rinse the rice several times until the water becomes clear. Place the washed rice into the minced meat. Mix the prepared minced meat thoroughly. Next, form balls, future hedgehogs.

3. Preparing the sauce: In a separate deep plate, mix mayonnaise, sour cream and tomato paste.

4. Place the hedgehogs in a baking dish, which has been lightly greased with oil. Pour over the sauce. If you have a small shape, then you can lay the hedgehogs in two layers and add a little extra water.

5. Place in a preheated oven (180 degrees) for an hour.

6. It is advisable to serve the dish immediately, hot, garnished with herbs.

7. You can serve meat hedgehogs with rice with mashed potatoes, pasta, vegetable salads, or as a separate dish.

A hedgehog is not a hedgehog, a cabbage roll is not a cabbage roll...

The recipe is based on a wide 4 liter pan.

So we need a very small grocery list:

— 800g. ground beef (or whatever you use to make, for example, hedgehog rolls or cabbage rolls);

- 2 pcs. medium-sized carrots;

- 1 onion;

- 0.5 tbsp. rice;

— white cabbage (enough in volume to fill 2/3 of the intended container);

Those who have tried to cook a small (or large) frying pan of delicious “hedgehogs” from minced meat with rice know how tasty this dish turns out. Although, both in terms of the list of ingredients and the cooking technique, these are completely ordinary and 100-times tested meatballs, there are several nuances that make the juicy, filling balls “hedgehog-like.” More on this below, in my delicious (I hope) description.

Not a single hedgehog was harmed during the preparation of this dish :-)

Minced meat hedgehogs with rice in a slow cooker

It’s captivating that this dish turns out to be light, light, dietary and juicy. And at the same time satisfying. Eat a few “hedgehogs” (sounds strange, I agree), and the feeling of hunger will subside for a long time. Variegated sauce + tender meat balls + favorite side dish = delicious dinner + compliments from family + good mood.

What we will cook from:

How to cook the most delicious meat “hedgehogs” with rice in a slow cooker:

If you don't like sweet peppers, feel free to exclude them from the list of ingredients. Otherwise, wash the small pod. Remove the stem and seeds. Cut half the pepper into small, small cubes.
Prepare the base for minced meat “hedgehogs”. Minced meat can be used not only combined. Pure pork will do. Or beef. And even “hedgehogs” made from minced chicken will not be dry. Vegetable sauce and cooking in a slow cooker will make the dish tender. Mix the minced meat with chopped pepper. Beat in a large chicken egg. Add rice. There is no need to cook it. It is advisable to use long grain cereals.
Pass a couple of cloves of garlic through a press. No fresh? Granulated will also work. Add salt and a little ground pepper. Use other meat spices if desired. Or ready-made seasoning for cutlets.
Mix the contents of the bowl thoroughly. Knead with your hands until it turns into an elastic mass. If the minced meat is saturated with air, the “hedgehogs” will fall apart, disintegrate and spread apart when frying and stewing in a slow cooker. Therefore, beat off the meat base for future golden rice balls. Throw it on a cutting board several times. The mass will become denser.
Make small “hedgehogs” from the minced meat and rice, as in the photo. I didn't bread the meatballs with anything. But if you have a desire, roll them in flour or crushed breadcrumbs.
Pour a little oil into the multicooker bowl. Fry the balls on one side until golden brown. Mode – “Frying”. Time – 3-4 minutes.
Carefully turn the “hedgehogs” onto the other side. Wait until a golden brown crust appears on it. If you have a small multicooker bowl, like I do, you will have to fry the hedgehog balls in several batches. When all are ready, place them back into the slow cooker. And start preparing the sauce.
Of course, vegetables for the sauce can be prepared at the same time as frying. Peel the carrots. Cut into strips. Or grate on a coarse grater. I like the first option better. Firstly, because this is how the carrots retain their shape even after long stewing. Secondly, because I don’t have a regular coarse grater.
Peel the onion too. Finely chop.
Tomatoes. It would be a good idea to peel them. So that small hard particles do not overshadow the tasting of “hedgehogs” made from minced meat with rice. How it's done. Boil the kettle. In the place where the tomato is attached to the stem, make two cross cuts. Not very deep, just enough to cut the skin. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes. After 7-10 minutes, remove the tomatoes. Remove the skin. And cut the pulp into small cubes. Or puree in a blender.
Add onions, carrots and tomatoes to the hedgehogs. The onion and carrots can be fried separately. Pour in some water or broth. Add a small pinch of pepper and salt. Stir gently. Close the multicooker. Select the “Extinguishing” mode. Cook for 30-40 minutes.
Remove the finished juicy “hedgehogs” from the multicooker and place on a plate. Pour over the colorful vegetable sauce and serve. Serve while the fragrant steam is still rising from the delicious diet meatballs. Because the dish is not as tasty when it has cooled down.

Recipe for minced hedgehogs with rice in a frying pan

When I took the lid off the frying pan with ready-made meat “hedgehogs” in a tantalizingly aromatic sauce, I saw a very appetizing still life. And I couldn’t raise my hand to break it even for the sake of a beautiful final photo. Therefore, I publish it as is, in a cozy home setting. You don't mind, do you? I won’t talk for a long time about the taste of the dish. Otherwise it won't be interesting to cook. I’ll limit myself to a laconic “Delicious!”

Ingredients:

minced meat (half pork and beef) – 0.5 kg	sweet, juicy, large carrots – 1 pc.
onion - medium head	greens (dill and parsley) - a small bunch
fresh garlic – 2 medium cloves	long grain rice – 100-120 g
large chicken egg - 1 pc.	flour – 2-3 tbsp. l. (for breading)
vegetable oil – 2-3 tbsp. l.	salt - to taste
ground black pepper - a pinch	sour cream of any fat content – 100 g
tomato paste (ketchup or tomato sauce) – 1-1.5 tbsp. l.	water – 100 ml

How to cook meat “hedgehogs”:

Peel the carrots. Chop coarsely. I chopped the vegetables in a blender, so I didn’t pay much attention to the beauty of the cutting. But you can grate the carrots on a coarse or medium grater.
Chop the onion into random pieces too. Or chop into cubes, like for soup, if you don’t use a blender.
Peel the garlic. Divide each clove into several parts. Or put it through a press.
Grind carrots, onions and garlic in a blender. There is no need to puree it. Let it not be completely uniform. If you initially preferred fine cutting, simply mix the vegetables.
Finely chop clean greens. You can use parsley and garlic. Or give the dish a Mediterranean twist by adding basil. And if you like cilantro, then that will go too.
Mix the minced meat with chopped vegetables. Beat in a chicken egg. Add rice cereal. Raw rice is added to minced meat hedgehogs. But you can bring it to half-ready. It won't harm the dish. Season with salt and pepper. Don't forget the greens.
Mix the minced meat thoroughly with the hedgehog rice. The mass should be homogeneous, smooth and elastic.
Make neat balls. Roll them in flour. You don’t have to bread it, but then you won’t have an appetizing crust.
Fry the meat “hedgehogs” in vegetable oil. The oil should be well heated. And the fire is strong. Brown the balls on one side.
And then carefully turn it over. And wait until a golden crust appears from the other barrel.
While the meatballs are frying, prepare the sauce. It is advisable to use homemade sour cream. It does not curdle when stewed for a long time. The store-bought product will also make a delicious gravy. But it will most likely turn into unappetizing flakes. The tomato component can be any. High-quality or homemade pasta. Favorite spicy ketchup. Or thick tomato sauce. Mix 2 main ingredients. Add some salt.
Add warm boiled water. Stir. Pour the gravy over the hedgehogs into the frying pan. Cover with a lid. Simmer over low heat for 20-25 minutes. During this time, the dish will reach the desired condition. And the sauce will thicken.
Serve the finished hedgehogs immediately. Definitely with potatoes and pickles. Although... Not necessarily. You can cook pasta and lentils. In general, it's up to you.

Bon appetit!

Minced meat dishes regularly appear in the kitchen: dumplings, cutlets, meatballs, casseroles and other wonderful hearty meat products.

It is not surprising that many housewives love to pamper themselves and their families with minced hedgehogs (balls). Most often, rice is added to them, which makes the dish more filling; in addition, these meat hedgehogs with rice can be eaten without a side dish.

Step one: choosing minced meat

To prepare nourishing, tasty and at the same time healthy products, you need to choose the right ingredients. Culinary experts recommend using exclusively long-grain rice and carefully choosing minced meat.

Make sure that it does not emit strange odors, pay special attention to studying the color. Good minced meat can have a burgundy, red or soft pink hue, depending on what kind of meat is in its composition.

It is best to buy fresh rather than frozen minced meat. Remember it between your fingers, it should be fluffy, but still quite dense. You should not buy crushed, out of shape or stuck together minced meat.

Classic recipe for meat hedgehogs

Traditionally, housewives prepared hedgehogs from beef or combined minced meat and stewed them in a saucepan.

First, you need to rinse the rice well and cook it until half cooked. Drain it in a colander, rinse with cold water and wait for the rice to cool. Meanwhile, combine chopped onion, minced meat and egg in a separate container.

The classic recipe uses only salt and pepper, without additional spices, but you can add to this list according to your taste and discretion. Add all the necessary seasonings and cooled rice.

Mix the substance again so that there are no lumps. Make small balls. Prepare the sauce separately: stir sour cream with tomato, add water, salt and pepper, a small amount of basil will be appropriate.

Place the meat hedgehogs and rice into a saucepan and pour the sauce generously over them. Simmer over moderate heat until the rice is completely cooked. As a rule, this takes no more than 35-40 minutes.

Rice and meat hedgehogs in the oven

Cooking hedgehogs in the oven is convenient because you don’t have to spend a lot of time on it, which you value so much. All you have to do is prepare all the ingredients and expect the result.

Minced chicken is suitable for this recipe; the dish will be dietary and suitable even for children. So, you will need the following components:

Minced meat - 450 g;
Rice - 1 glass;
1 chicken egg;
1 onion;
1 pod of bell pepper;
4 cloves of garlic;
Oil for frying - 3 tbsp. l.;
Sour cream - 2 tbsp. l.
Salt, pepper, additional spices and herbs (any) - to taste.

Stir the minced meat with rice and egg. Chop the onion and bell pepper and add them to the resulting substance, add salt and pepper. For the sauce, mix sour cream with finely chopped herbs, garlic and your favorite spices.

Mold the hedgehogs and then place them in a mold (baking tray), previously greased with oil. Pour the sauce evenly over them and place them in a preheated oven. It is recommended to bake this wonderful dish at a temperature of 180-200 degrees for 45 minutes.

A simple recipe for hedgehogs in sauce in a frying pan

When cooking hedgehogs in a frying pan, the balls are covered with a particularly tasty fried crust, which is why this recipe is so popular.

To prepare a hearty dinner, take the following ingredients:

Ready minced meat - 600 g;
Rice - 200 g;
Medium-sized chicken egg - 1 pc.;
Large carrots - 1 pc.;
Flour or breadcrumbs - 3-4 tbsp. l.;
Onion head - 1 pc.;
A bunch of greenery;
Ketchup, sour cream and water for sauce - 100 g each;
Salt, a mixture of peppers and other seasonings - to taste.

Initially, you should prepare the base for the meat balls with rice. To do this, break a large egg into the minced meat, then pour rice into it.

There is no need to boil it first, just rinse it under cold water. Next, add salt, seasonings, pepper and other spices.

Grind carrots, herbs and onions in a blender or finely chop. Add vegetables to hedgehog base.

Mix everything until you get a smooth consistency. The further cooking process is extremely simple: make balls, roll them on all sides in flour or breadcrumbs and fry in a frying pan until golden brown.

Meanwhile, you need to mix ketchup, sour cream and prepared boiled water in a separate container. Season with salt and pepper and gradually pour the resulting substance into the frying pan. Cover with a lid and simmer for about 25 minutes over low heat.

Healthy meat balls with rice from a slow cooker

Multicookers are gradually becoming more and more popular. Among the advantages of this device is ease and speed of operation.

Ready-made dishes cooked in a slow cooker are more beneficial than similar ones cooked in the oven or in a frying pan. It's no surprise that classic recipes are also being adapted for cooking using a slow cooker.

The balls in the slow cooker turn out especially juicy, so you can use any minced meat. This recipe uses a mixture of beef and pork.

To prepare rice balls you will need the following ingredients:

Minced meat - 500 g;
Rice - 150 g;
Purified water - 150 ml;
Salt - 2 tsp;
1 chicken egg;
1 small carrot;
1 onion;
4 cloves of garlic;
3 tomatoes;
Sunflower oil - 3 tbsp. l.;
A mixture of peppers (you can only take black and red), spices, seasonings - to taste.

Grind the garlic, combine them with minced meat, washed rice and egg. Salt and pepper.

Knead the resulting mass thoroughly with your hands to remove excess air. Some chefs advise beating the minced meat with a special hammer so that the finished products are denser and do not fall apart in the slow cooker. After this, start making small meat balls.

Pour some vegetable oil into the device and turn on the frying mode. Fry them for 3-4 minutes on each side.

Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedure several times to achieve readiness. Leave the balls in the slow cooker.

Tomatoes can be ground in a blender. Lightly fry the onions and carrots, then add them to the balls, put the tomatoes there, and add a little water. Close the multicooker, turn on the stew mode and cook delicious meat hedgehogs with rice for 40 minutes.

To vary the recipe for balls, you can use different methods. Some people complement them with a side dish, baking them with potatoes and cheese, buckwheat and other ingredients.

Others add a variety of vegetables, cabbage is especially suitable. Particularly tender hedgehogs are obtained if the minced meat is first minced through a meat grinder twice.

You don’t have to experiment with the composition of the hedgehogs themselves, but change the sauce recipe a little.

Of course, different spice options are always relevant: add a little hop-suneli, oregano, turmeric - and you will be pleasantly surprised by the result.

This meat dish turns out to be quite interesting and unusual in taste. It can be prepared both for everyday meals for the whole family with any side dish, and for a holiday table. Today I will tell you how to cook delicious minced hedgehogs with rice and gravy, and then a step-by-step recipe with photos. And making these meaty and delicious balls is very simple and quick, you don’t need to spend too much time on them.

You can prepare meat hedgehogs from any minced meat, pork, beef or chicken. They are especially delicious with sour cream sauce.

How to make meat hedgehogs with minced meat and rice

Products:

For hedgehogs

Minced meat – 400 gr.
Egg – 1 pc.
Onions – 2-3 pcs.
Carrot – 1 pc.
Garlic – 4-5 cloves.

For the sauce

Sour cream – 200 gr.
Tomato sauce – 200 gr.
Some water

Step-by-step recipe for cooking meat hedgehogs with minced meat and rice

First, rinse the rice thoroughly and boil in salted water until half cooked. When the rice is cooked, drain off the excess water and let it cool slightly.

In the meantime, cook the rice, peel the onions and carrots, wash them. Cut the onion into small pieces and grate the carrots on a coarse grater.

Place the onion in a frying pan and fry until golden brown.

Place carrots in the fried onions and fry until the carrots are ready. Let cool slightly.

Peel the garlic too and chop finely.

Place minced meat, rice, fried onions and carrots in a separate large bowl, add egg, salt, spices, chopped garlic and mix everything thoroughly.

Form small balls from the resulting mass and place them in a frying pan or other container (for example, a duck pot, or a multicooker vat). It all depends on where you will cook meat hedgehogs: on gas, in the oven, or in a slow cooker.

Now let's prepare sour cream sauce for meat hedgehogs with rice and minced meat.

Place sour cream and sauce in a separate container, add a little water, add salt and stir until smooth.

Pour the resulting sauce into a frying pan with meat hedgehogs and put on fire. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer until tender, about 30-40 minutes. If you want, you can put the frying pan not on gas, but in the oven and bake minced hedgehogs in the oven. You can also stew them in a slow cooker.

Well, that’s all, our delicious minced meat hedgehogs with rice are ready, now they can be served with any side dish. Bon appetit!