Spanish Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce are a very popular dish in Spain. They are called "albondigas con salsa picante" and are also served in tapas bars. There, they will serve you small meatballs, as the charm of tapas lies in the fact that they are just big enough for one or two bites.

Details

  • Preparation Time: 20 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 30 minutes
  • Difficulty: 1
  • Spiciness: 1
  • Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 600 g Meat, beef, ground

  • 0.5 piece Onion, raw

  • 50 g Breadcrumbs, dried

  • 2 spoons Milk, whole milk

  • 1 piece Egg, fresh

  • 3 teaspoons Spices, paprika

  • 60 ml Oil, olive

Sauce

  • 1 piece Onion, raw

  • pieces Garlic, fresh

  • 0.5 teaspoons Spices, paprika

  • 1 piece Spices, bay (leaves)

  • 1 can Tomato, pieces - can

  • 350 g Tomato sauce, without salt

  • pieces Salt, table

Steps

  1. Place the breadcrumbs in a bowl and pour milk over them. Let them soak for 5 minutes. Peel and finely chop the onion. Sauté it in heated oil, then remove from heat and let it cool to lukewarm.

  2. In a larger bowl, place the ground meat and add the sautéed onion, egg, spices, and the soaked breadcrumbs, which have been well squeezed. Mix the ingredients well with your hands to form a uniform and evenly seasoned mixture. Divide it into 12 parts and shape them into meatballs.

  3. Place a pan on the stove and heat oil in it. Fry the meatballs in the oil, turning them during cooking so they brown evenly on all sides. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic separately. Remove the fried meatballs from the pan and keep them warm on a plate. Add the onion to the pan and caramelize it while stirring. Add more oil if needed. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and hot paprika. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring constantly, then add the tomatoes to the pan. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and mix the sauce well. Add the meatballs and slightly reduce the heat. Cook the meatballs in the sauce for another 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. If it thickens too quickly, add a little more water.

  4. Serve the prepared dish sprinkled with chopped parsley, cilantro, or chives. Serve with boiled rice or any potato side dish of your choice.

Nutrition Information (Per 100g)

  • Calories: 253.97 kcal
  • Fat: 20 g
    • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0 g
    • Sugars: 0 g
  • Protein: 17 g
  • Fiber: 0 g