Honey in Arkansas ~ Chorizo Sausage Meatballs

Chorizo Meatballs title image
Arkansas farmers markets are pitching tents and setting up tables to sell locally-grown produce and plants. Spring is in full swing! A favorite of mine to buy at the farmers market is honey raised by local beekeepers.

My son prefers honey to jam on his peanut butter sandwiches, and I love to fold it into Greek yogurt to cut the tartness. It’s great on a warm biscuit, but one of my favorite uses is to create my own glazes and salad dressings.

This recipe works for both and is easy to tweak with your family’s favorite herbs and citrus flavors. I like it, because it’s easy to make. I usually have the ingredients on-hand, and it keeps well in the refrigerator if it isn’t all used during one meal.

Honey recipe in bowl

Chorizo Sausage Meatballs

Ingredients:
One tube of chorizo
1 pound ground beef (I used 85/15 fat content)
2 cloves of garlic, riced or minced
½ cup yellow onion, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
½ teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients in a medium bowl until well-blended. Since the chorizo is very soft, the meat will not roll out into balls. Instead, spoon them onto a baking sheet like you would do with cookie dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, turning halfway through baking.

Honey recipe dressing vertical with bottle

Honey Citrus Glaze

Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 clove of garlic, riced or minced
2 Tablespoons local honey
½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (lime and lemon can be substituted, but they make a glaze more tart than sweet)

Directions:
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender, or whisk in a glass bowl. Add fresh herbs, such as thyme or chives if desired. Remaining glaze should keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about a week.
2. Chorizo has a distinct, peppery flavor that is a great match for the sweet, citrus glaze. Put together a salad to go with your protein, and drizzle the glaze over the entire plate. It’s also tasty as a sopping sauce with a slice of bread. Enjoy!

Arkansas Women Blogger
Laurie MarshallArkansas Women Blogger Laurie Marshall is a writer and artist living in Springdale, Arkansas with her husband, son and three cats who think they’re people. She can’t keep her fingernails clean, prefers her tea unsweet, and is on a first-name basis with local thrift store employees. You can follow Laurie at See Laurie Write and Junque Rethunque.