Spanish Meatballs – Albondigas Recipe
User Reviews
4.5
321 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
20 mins
-
Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
55 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
565 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Spanish
Spanish Meatballs – Albondigas Recipe
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Spanish meatballs, albondigas, or tapas are the best meatballs in tomato sauce I’ve ever had; they are Spanish food at its best.
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Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground meat a mixture of beef and pork, Note 1
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 egg
- 2 ½ tablespoons dried breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- ¾ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon hot paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Tomato sauce:
- 1 medium onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 cans chopped tomatoes each weighing 400 g/ 14 oz
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds Note 2
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Meatballs:
- Make meatballs: Place the ground meat, grated garlic cloves, lightly beaten egg, dried breadcrumbs, parsley, sweet, smoked, hot paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well with your hand. Form between 30 and 35 small meatballs, about the size of a walnut.1 lb ground meat/ 450 g + 2 garlic cloves + 1 egg + 2 ½ tablespoons dried breadcrumbs + 2 tablespoons chopped parsley + ¾ teaspoon sweet paprika + ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika + ¼ teaspoon hot paprika + 1 teaspoon salt + ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fry meatballs: Heat the oil in a large skillet. Fry the meatballs (in two batches if necessary) until brown on all sides. This will take about 5 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside.1 tablespoon olive oil
Tomato sauce:
- Saute: Chop the onion very finely. Heat the olive oil in the same skillet. Add the onion and cook it until translucent. Add the finely chopped garlic cloves and stir for another minute.1 medium onion + 2 tablespoons olive oil + 3 garlic cloves
- Simmer: Add the tomatoes, fennel seeds, oregano, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, and chopped parsley. Add some salt and pepper as well. Stir well and bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until slightly thickened.2 cans chopped tomatoes + ½ teaspoon fennel seeds + 1 teaspoon dried oregano + 2 bay leaves + ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper + 2 tablespoons chopped parsley + salt and pepper
- Add the meatballs to the pan and heat them in the sauce for about 5 minutes or cooked through.
Notes
- The recipe serves 4 as a main dish and 8-10 as tapas. The nutrition is calculated for 4 servings.
- Fennel seeds: I strongly recommend using them; they add incredible flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1/4 of the dish
Calories
565kcal
(28%)
Carbohydrates
12g
(4%)
Protein
43g
(86%)
Fat
38g
(58%)
Saturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
22g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
176mg
(59%)
Sodium
788mg
(33%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 565 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/4 of the dish | |
| Calories | 565kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 22g | 129% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 176mg | 59% |
| Sodium | 788mg | 33% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
321 reviews
Excellent
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