When the temperature drops there is nothing better than a big bowl of comfort food so pull out your cookware and start preparing this French Canadian ragoût de boulettes (meatball stew) to enjoy.
The weather is getting cooler which means it is the perfect time to start making soups and stews. Depending on what you like to eat, there are many different types of stews, all flavourful and delicious. Irish stew, chicken stew, jambalaya, beef bourguignon and of course a traditional French Canadian ragoût de boulettes.
Ragoût de boulettes
If you are French Canadian or have tried this traditional Meatball stew then you know the flavours are very different from your regular stews. By adding cinnamon, cloves, and ginger this stew is unique and tasty. When you add bread cubes to the meat mixture instead of bread crumbs it gives you the taste of holiday bread stuffing. Making it an ideal side or topping on potatoes or rice during your holiday meals. This meatball stew and gravy are also perfect on their own with a nice baguette to help soak up the gravy.
Easy Meatball Stew Ideas
When it comes to meatball stews, there are a variety of flavours you can make but it all begins with the type of meat and seasoning you want to use. When people think of meatballs it is usually with spaghetti or on a sandwich. Meatballs in tomato sauce are basically an Italian meatball stew. If you like spicy, try a Cajun meatball stew using cajun spice, paprika or cayenne pepper.
Take any of your favourite meats grind them together and add spices and herbs that your entire family will enjoy. You may want to have some rubber gloves on once you start making the meatballs because there is nothing worse than having slimy hands from rolling the meat.
French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes Recipe (Meatball Stew)
French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes or Meatball Stew Recipe is a traditional French Canadian food that you definitely have to make for Christmas! It will leave your tummy full and your house smelling wonderfully spiced! Two other French Canadian meals that I serve over the holidays are the French Canadian Tourtière (Meat Pies) and the French Canadian “Ragoût de Pattes de Cochon” (Stewed Pig’s Feet)!
French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes Ingredients
- 1 lbs of ground pork
- 1/2 lbs of ground beef
- 1/4 lbs of salted pork
- 1 small onion, minced
- 2 tbs of parsley
- 1/4 tsp of ginger
- 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp of ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp of dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp of pepper
- 2 slices of white bread, cut in cubes
- 1/2 cup of milk
- Pepper to taste
- 2 tbs of vegetable oil
- 2 cups of lukewarm water
- 8 tbs of browned flour (a sand colour- if you leave it longer to cook, it will give you a darker gravy)
- 1 cup of lukewarm water
Kitchen Tools Needed
- Large Deep Skillet or Saucepan
- Mason Jar
How To Make French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes
- 1. Grind all three meats together in a food processor.
- 2. Place meat into a big bowl.
- 3. Add onion, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, dry mustard, and pepper.
- 4. In a small bowl, put the bread and milk together.
- 5. Blend together well with a spoon or your hands.
- 6. Add the bread mixture to the meat mixture.
- 7. Mix well with a spoon or your hands.
- 8. Shape and roll mixture into meatballs.
- 9. Heat 2 tbs of vegetable oil in a large deep skillet or saucepan over low heat.
- 10. Add about 25 meatballs to a large skillet or saucepan and cook until meatballs are cooked throughout and no longer pink, flipping a few times to cook evenly, about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness. Repeat until they are all cooked.
- 11. Remove fat from skillet. Add 2 cups of warm water. Cover and cook at low heat for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- 12. In a jar (Mason), add the warm cup of water and the browned flour. Close lid and shake or simply mix with a spoon until it’s mixed.
- 13. Pour in the meatballs stew, stir regularly until the gravy has thicken (at least 15-30 minutes). If the gravy is not thick enough, add 4 more tablespoon of brown flour with 1/2 cup of warm water. Repeat as necessary.
I hope you enjoyed the French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes (Meatball Stew). If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes.
Do you have a favourite French Canadian recipe? Comment below!
French Canadian Ragoût de Boulettes (Meatball Stew)
Equipment
- Large Deep Skillet or Saucepan
- Mason Jar
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 lbs ground pork
- 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1/4 lbs salted pork
- 1 small onion minced
- 2 tbs parsley
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard
- 2 slices white bread cut in cubes
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tbs vegetable oil
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 8 tbs browned flour a sand colour- if you leave it longer to cook, it will give you a darker gravy
- 1 cup lukewarm water
Instructions
- Grind all three meats together in a food processor.
- Place meat into a big bowl.
- Add onion, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, dry mustard, and pepper.
- In a small bowl, put the bread and milk together.
- Blend together well with a spoon or your hands.
- Add the bread mixture to the meat mixture.
- Mix well with a spoon or your hands.
- Shape and roll mixture into meatballs.
- Heat 2 tbs of vegetable oil in a large skillet or saucepan over low heat.
- Add about 25 meatballs to a large skillet or saucepan and cook until meatballs are cooked throughout and no longer pink, flipping a few times to cook evenly, about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness. Repeat until they are all cooked.
- Remove fat from skillet. Add 2 cups of warm water. Cover and cook at low heat for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- In a jar (Mason), add the warm cup of water and the browned flour. Close lid and shake or simply mix with a spoon until it’s mixed.
- Pour in the stew, stir regularly until the gravy has thicken (at least 15-30 minutes). If you find the gravy is not thick enough, add 4 more tablespoon of brown flour with 1/2 cup of warm water. Repeat as necessary.
I love learning about new recipes and this one is completely new. I love meatballs (and they are so great for making double batches and freezing the extras!). I will try to give this recipe a go over the break. Thanks!
Let me know how you like it:)
My Meme used to make this for us kids when we came over. She also added chicken. For some reason, at the store today, I thought of this dish and decided to make it for dinner tonight. I’m in my 60’s now but it tastes as good as I remembered. I also use cinnamon in my mom’s French Canadian meat pie recipe and it makes all the difference!
So happy you liked it! Thank you for sharing!
Yum this looks amazing!
I can’t wait to try this out on boxing day, thanks!
A very interesting cultural dish I just might have to try.
If you do, let me know how you like it!
This sounds like a great comfort food dish! Thanks for sharing!
it sure is and hoping you will try the recipe!
Sounds very yummy. I don’t even need spaghetti. I love my meatballs.
Love the idea of a meatball stew but for some reason my pallet things ginger and cinnamon are for desserts?? Might have to mix it up a bit with spices on my end. 🙂
It’s very good with meat too! Thanks for commenting.
I have to find that browned flour – its sounds so cool! These meatballs look delicious!
Your local grocery store should carry it. Thanks and hope you will make them:)
These look delicious! I’ve never seen Browned Flour before but will look into it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh,I know I would love this,meatballs are my all time favorite
Thanks for the recipe,hubby sure enjoyed this
Oh my gosh this sounds so delicious and I can’t wait to try them.I do make tourtiere pies which are a little bit similar but these meat balls sound sublime.Thank you for the recipe.
If you like tourtiere, you will definitely like this recipe! Let us know how much you like them and thanks for commenting!
I’ve never seen Browned Flour before but used regular flour and they were delicious
My Hubby would love these , he loves meatballs , i will def be making these for him , thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Let us know how you like them!
I think this is one of the best Meatballs recipes i have try.
I love French Canadian recipes and I know I will enjoy these meatballs very much.I love the spices in the meat. Thanks for shaRING THIS.
My pleasure Wanda! Hoping you make the recipe and let me know how you liked it!
My family loves meatballs so I would like to try this recipe.
My mother usually makes the meatballs in our family and they’re absolutely delicious but maybe I’ll give it a shot and share with her for a change.
This meatball recipe will be different! Let me know if you like it!
I really like the ingredients for this recipe,my family really enjoyed it !
My mother made the brown flour in a cast iron skillet in the oven. She would also cook rabbit or chicken with the meatballs and serve it with boiled potatoes.
That must be soo good!
Enfin la recette de ragoût que je cherchais!! Le goût a ramener des souvenirs de mon enfance. Merci!! Je l’ai fait à la lettre, je n’ai rien changé. Mon mari américain n’avait jamais goûté à de la bonne cuisine québécoise et il a adoré!
Bienvenue! Je suis heureuse de savoir que vous l’avez aimé!