Hawaiian Meatballs

I know, I know, you are probably thinking I have gone off the deep end by making a pork meatball with pineapple and coconut. Stay with me! These meatballs seriously blew my mind, and you can quote me on that! I took one out of the oven while it was baking to test it's 'done-ness' and ended up eating 2 more straight our of the oven, burning my mouth and risking food-borne illnesses in the process. I know this combination sounds weird, but seriously do yourself a favor and try them. Your belly will thank you. Think of it as a porky pina colada, what can be better than that!?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded (unsweetened) coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 cup canned crushed pineapple, sugar free (packed in its own juice)
• 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried ginger
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3-4 scallions, very thinly sliced
• 1/2 fresh jalapeno, seeds/ribs removed, finely minced (if you like spicy, use more. in my opinion this was not spicy enough)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 lbs groung pork

• Preheat oven to 375 F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Heat a large non-stick skillet over mediu-high heat and add the coconut. Toast, stirring often with a spoon until golden brown, about 3 minuted. Remove from  heat and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Set aside to cool.  

• Drain the can of pineapple in a sieve placed over a bowl to catch the juice. Press the pineapple against the sieve to get all the juice out. Place the pineapple in a large mixing blwn and save the juice for later


• In the bowl with the pineapple add 1/2 teaspoon salt, coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, scallions, jalapeno, eggs. Beat with a spoon until combined. Crumble the pork into the bowl and mix with your hands until all ingredients are incorporated.




• Arrange the bowls of pineapple juice, spiced coconut, and seasoned pork for easy access. Measure a tablespoon of pork to make a meatball. Lightly douse the meat in the pineapple juice, then roll it in the coconut. Press the coconut into the meat by lightly rolling in your palms. (don't use too much coconut). Line up the meatballs on a baking sheet about a 1/2 inch apart.

• Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes

• Pretend you are in hawaii on a sandy secluded beach....and enjoy!