Chipotle Meatballs

3 slices bacon in 1-inch pieces

3 garlic cloves, peeled

2 large eggs

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Salt

1 ¼ pounds ground pork

1/2 cup (loosely packed) coarsely chopped mint leaves, more for garnish

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted), drained of all but ¼ cup juice

1 or 2 canned chipotle chilies in adobo, stemmed, seeded and sauce reserved

1 teaspoon dried oregano

About 1½ cups beef or chicken broth.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a food processor, combine bacon and 1 garlic clove. Process until finely chopped. Add eggs, bread crumbs and 1 teaspoon salt. Pulse several times to combine thoroughly, then add pork and mint. Pulse a few more times until well combined but not a paste. Remove meat from processor. With wet hands, form meat into about 16 plum-size balls and space them out in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. While meatballs bake, combine tomatoes, ¼ cup tomato juice, chipotles, 1 to 2 tablespoons chipotle sauce, oregano, remaining garlic cloves (cut in half) and ½ teaspoon salt in a blender or food processor. Process to a smooth purée. When meatballs are ready, spoon off rendered fat from baking dish, then pour tomato mixture on top, covering meatballs evenly. Bake until sauce has thickened somewhat, 15 to 20 minutes. Heat broth in a small saucepan. Divide meatballs among four dinner plates, leaving sauce behind. Stir enough broth into sauce to give it a spoonable consistency. Taste and season with salt, if necessary. Spoon sauce over meatballs, decorate with extra mint leaves, if you wish, and serve. Serves four.

Recipe source: New York Times, Feb 8, 2006 who got it from

Mexican Everyday by Chicago chef Rick Bayless