Irish Meatball Sliders

For all you Saint Patrick's Day purists, this is not in any way shape or form an authentic Irish recipe. Go ahead and boil up a fatty hunk of corned beef and some slimy cabbage if it makes you happy, but I hear that's not exactly authentic either. Regardless, I prefer little meatballs covered with melted cheese on Hawaiian rolls. Call me crazy.

This recipe is adapted from a Rachael Ray recipe for Reuben Sliders. Last summer I had a torrid affair with these little beauties and then I recently came up with these Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs. Put them all together and what do you get? Pure Saint Paddy's Day Love, that's what.

Irish Meatball Sliders

For Meatballs
1 lb ground sirloin
1/2 pound sliced corned beef, chopped fine
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1 egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs

For Filling
1 tbs olive oil
2 red potatoes, diced
16 oz sauerkraut
1 onion, diced
6 ozs beer
1/2 cup brown sugar

For Sandwiches
12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In mixing bowl, combine meatball ingredients and mix well. Form meat into a brick-sized rectangle and cut into 16 equal squares. Roll each square into a ball and bake for 15 minutes.
3. While meatballs are baking, heat 1 tbs olive oil in large skillet and add potatoes. Cook until lightly browned. Add rinsed sauerkraut and onion.  Cook fifteen minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
4. In small saucepan, combine beer and brown sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until it starts to thicken slightly and then pour over potato mixture. Add meatballs. Cover and cook ten minutes.
5. In the meantime, combine melted butter, mustard and Worcestershire sauce in small mixing bowl. Slice rolls lenghtwise without separating them. Spread bottom half of rolls with potato mixture. Top with meatballs and then sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Replace top half of rolls and brush with butter mixture.
6. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.

Totally not Irish, but color your cocktail green and call it a day. You'll love it!