Beef, Ham And Shrimp Balls (Dominican Republic) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
4 ounces ham, chopped
1/2 lb raw shrimp, deveined chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt & pepper
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups saltines, crumbled
1/2 cup frozen baby peas, defrosted
1 medium onion, sliced
1 bay leaf

Preparation

Put the ground beef, ham, shrimp, onion, garlic, salt & pepper, red pepper flakes through the finest blade of a meat grinder, or chop everything as fine as possible and combine in a bowl.
Add the 2 eggs, one a time, mixing thoroughly.
Coarsely crumble enough saltine crackers to make about 1 1/2 cups, then crush with a rolling pin.
Mix the crackers, half a cup at a time, into the meat mixture with a wooden spoon, until the texture is smooth.
It should not be sloppy, but firm enough to hold its shape.
Next fold in the peas gently.
Roll the meat mixture into 1 inch balls.
Add the balls to a pan of water enough to cover the balls, sliced onion and a bay leaf.
Bring to a boil.
Then simmer for about 20 minutes.
Serve hot or cold.