The true origin of meatballs may be unclear; however, it is a popular dish served around the world. It is a staple that combines various cultural elements, creativity, and is made with a wide range of ingredients depending on the recipes. Meatballs are very versatile, easy to share, convenient to store and reheat, and that is why many people love them, and how it became a popular product on the market.

Ground meat is the main ingredient for meatballs; however, people add various seasoning, spices, and ingredients depending on their cultures, food traditions, and even childhood memories. Meatballs are delicious and can be casually enjoyed with almost any other food and beverages. According to an interesting research from Tastewise, 49.91% of the consumers like to have their meatballs with coffee! While this may sound like an interesting pairing, people worldwide certainly enjoy this combination!

Thanks to the invention of plant-based meats, many vegetarians and vegans can now enjoy “meat free” meatballs. With the help of advanced food freezing and packaging technologies, meatless meatballs are now readily available for purchase in many retail markets. According to Future Market Insight’s (FMI) prediction, plant-based meatballs will reach an approximate 23% annual compound growth rate by the year 2030. Another interesting fact is that researchers have found most Europeans prefer the meatless chicken food products, while most of the consumers in North America are more interested in plant-based meat products more closely resemble beef.

Of all the meatballs in the world, we’d like to introduce you to four of our favorite kinds:

Kibbeh, also known as kibe, kibbe, or kubba is one of the most popular meatballs in the Middle East. Kibbeh is usually made with crushed bulgur wheat combined with ground beef or lamb, then stuffed with spiced mince meats and pine nuts. After forming each meatball into bite sized “football” shapes, it is then deep fried or baked to a golden brown and crispy texture. Kibbeh is considered a national dish in Syria, and it is very popular in countries such as Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. In parts of Latin America, Kibbeh is made with different recipes; it is spelled “Quibe” in Brazil, and stuffed with soft cheeses instead of pine nuts, and there are also plant-based versions made with mashed chickpeas and tofu.

Many people believe that meatball recipes originated in West Asia and the popularity grew as the Ottoman Empire expanded; this ancient delicacy has grown into more than 200 different varieties of Kofta in Turkey alone. The original recipe used mainly ground meats, then bread crumbs, rice, crushed wheats, eggs, milk, and various spices were added for flavor and textures. Almost every household has their own unique family meatball recipes in Turkey. In 2018, the Swedish government posted a twitter announcement about “Köttbullar”, which stated that the world-famous Swedish meatballs sold at IKEA actually originated from “Kofta” bringing much attention and discussions about the history and global impact of Kofta.

In Spain, meatballs are called “Albondigas” and they are one of the most popular dishes on any tapas menu. They are usually made into bite-sized meatballs that are slightly smaller than “Polpette” made in Italy, and they are usually served in a tomato sauce. Albondigas were introduced to Latin America and the recipes have been changed according to different cultures and traditions. In Mexico, an Albondigas soup is a very popular dish which is very different from the meatball tapas served in Spain.

In Poland, “Pulpety” is a favorite homemade family dish, especially for the children. These Polish meatballs are soft, hearty, rich in flavors, and they are usually served with mashed potatoes and gravy creating a delicious comfort meal. There are many ways to prepare pulpety, the most common way is to use ground meats, but there are also some that are made with fish. Traditionally, pulpety is made into small balls or disks and boiled in soup stock, then the stock is thickened with flour, or mixed with chopped tomatoes, dill and other ingredients to create a flavorful gravy served over the meatballs.

ANKO’s SD-97 Series Automatic Encrusting and Forming Machines can produce top quality Kibbeh and Kofta. ANKO’s FMB-60 Automatic Meatball Machines is the best equipment for producing meatballs such as Albondigas or Pulpety from pre-mixed ground meats or pastes. For more information about the market demand for meatballs, ANKO’s production equipment, and recipes, please feel free to contact us at any time.