ALBONDIGAS (MEATBALLS)
I spend most of my summers with my Abuela in Mexico, and we cook almost every day. She has taught me about the diversity of Mexican food and that it’s not all tacos and enchiladas.
One of my favorite dishes is these meatballs, which are served in a tomato sauce with potatoes. This is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal, with a sufficient serving of protein. Abuela is a very precise cook, and this is her exact process. Yes - the hard-boiled eggs go right inside the meatballs!
Albondigas (meatballs)
SERVINGS: 8 LARGE MEATBALLS (ABOUT 4 SERVINGS)
PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES
COOKING TIME: 40 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 60 MINUTES
INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo of ground beef
2 tablespoons of rice
1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon of salt + more to season
1 hard boiled egg
1/2 of a chicken broth cube
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 small onion
3 tomatoes (roughly chopped)
1 large potato (peeled and cut into small cubes)
1 or 2 chipotle chilis (optional)
1/2 cup of water + 1-2 tablespoons of water
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of tomato paste (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Rice:
Rinse and let sit in hot water for 5 minutes.
Strain the rice, then put into a small pot with about 1-2 tablespoons of water and cook on medium heat with the cover on for about 5 minutes (don’t let the rice fully cook).
Prepare the Meat:
Mix the pepper, salt, garlic powder, and rice into the meat with your hands.
Divide the meat into 8 equal pieces and roughly roll into balls (don’t have to be perfect).
Cut the boiled egg into 8 equal pieces (make them small enough to fit inside the meatballs, you will likely not need the entire egg).
Very slightly flatten each ball and create a pocket in the middle of the meat using your knuckle. Place one piece of egg in the pocket and wrap the meat around the egg and then form a ball with the meat. Do this to all your pieces of meat.
Prepare the Salsa:
Blend the tomato, onion, garlic, chicken broth cube, 1/2 cup of water, and the optional chipotle chilis together in a blender.
In a deep saucepan, heat the oil on medium heat.
Once the pan is hot, put in the potatoes. Mix them slightly to coat them in oil and cook for about 3 minutes or until they are sizzling.
Once they are sizzling, add the sauce and the optional tomato paste and mix.
Season with salt and pepper to your liking and cook for about 20 minutes with the cover on.
Cook the Meatballs:
Once the sauce has been cooking for 20 minutes, place the meatballs one at a time in the saucepan. Cover the pan and cook for 20 minutes,
Once fully cooked, add salt if necessary.
Serve with rice or anything your heart desires! Enjoy!