Tausi Insider

Photo : casanisa ( Shutterstock ) D ense meatballs got you down? Despite your attempts at rolling well-mixed yet tender meatballs, do you end up with rubber super balls every time? All that’s about to change, and it starts with the mix. To help encourage a crumbly blend, use tofu. Tough meatballs are a result of over- mixing and too much binding agent. Your first order of business is to be light-handed as you mix. That’s why most chefs recommend using your hands instead of a spoon and avoiding food processors. After that, it comes down to reducing the binding ingredients in your mix (like eggs and bread crumbs) or adding elements to break up the meat— and t ofu is a grea t option for the latter . As the proteins in the meat cook , they tighten up and squeeze out moisture, which can lead to dryness. Not only will the tofu crumbles break up the tightening proteins throughout your mixture, they’ll add moisture to keep the meatballs from becoming dry as they cook. If you’re con...