Albóndigas - meatballs. The idea is to flavor the meatballs with fresh mint and then let them simmer in a sweet tomato sauce. This tomato-mint combo doesn't make many appearances in Mexican cuisine, but it's surprisingly refreshing so don't let its rarity scare you off. Spanish Meatballs, or Albondigas, are traditionally served at tapas bars in Spain.

We've also got plenty more inspiration for Spanish recipes. My recipe for Mexican meatballs, or albondigas Mexicanas, are made with a combination of beef and pork. The meat is then mixed with a variety of seasonings and white rice and then cooked in a tomato-chipotle salsa. You can cook Albóndigas - meatballs using 11 ingredients and 3 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Albóndigas - meatballs

Prepare of Ground beef or Turkey.
Prepare 2 sticks of celery.
You need 2 cups of baby carrots, chop up.
Prepare 5 of tomatoes.
Prepare 2 cups of rice.
It's 1 tablespoon of mustard.
It's 1 of egg.
You need 2 cups of cilantro.
Prepare 1 cup of onions.
Prepare 2 tablespoons of garlic.
It's 1 teaspoon of caldo de pollo.

The meatballs are cooked in the salsa along with potatoes, carrots, and/or squash. I did like the taste of the dish but the texture and consistency of the meatballs were too soggy and some of the meatballs broke down in the soup/sauce. I would have preferred to have cooked the meatballs in a separate pan first to get a good sear on the outside and then put the meatballs in the sauce for a while. Spanish Meatballs in Garlic Tomato Sauce, Albondigas is a lovely easy dish typically served as Tapas in bars.

Albóndigas - meatballs instructions

First thing is first you want to mix the meat with the cilantro, the rice, the mustard, the carrots and the celery. Now you can add any kind of vegetable to it. I think it's perfect because the kids don't know that they're eating vegetables so they're sneaking it in once all mixed together for meatballs..
Once all the meatballs are done put them to the side. In the blender mix five tomatoes will a tablespoon of garlic and 1 tablespoon of caldo de pollo. Once everything is blended, put the tomato sauce that you blended in a hot pan. You just have to add half a teaspoon of oil into the pan. Let that simmer for about 5 to 6 minutes..
Add 1 cup of water to the tomato that is cooking and once that is all done, add your meatballs into the tomato sauce. Give it about 10 minutes to 15 minutes until the meatballs are firm and ready to eat. Sometimes I like to sprinkle right into the sauce just so that you can also have something to eat there but that's optional..

Great for party food, main meals and appetizers! Spanish Meatballs in Garlic Tomato Sauce, Albondigas. Authentic albondigas are a quick and popular tapas dish that can also work well as a mid-week meal for all the family served with rice or pasta. My albondigas recipe is made from minced beef and pork blended with fried onions, cumin and smokey paprika and shaped into large Spanish meatballs that are slowly cooked in a rich tomato sauce made. It is our version of comfort food.