Spicy Spanish Albondigas Meatballs

Bring bold, robust flavors to your dinner table with these Spicy Spanish Albondigas Meatballs, a dish that combines tender, perfectly seasoned beef and pork meatballs with a rich, smoky tomato sauce. Infused with sweet and smoked paprika, ground cumin, and just a hint of red chili flakes, these meatballs boast a fiery kick balanced by a luscious tomato and chicken broth base. The addition of minced garlic, onion, and a fragrant bay leaf enhances every bite, while a sprinkle of fresh parsley adds freshness. Perfect for serving with crusty bread, fluffy rice, or al dente pasta, this comforting Spanish-inspired recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Ready in just an hour, it’s an ideal choice for a flavorful weeknight meal or a special weekend dinner.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams Ground beef
• 250 grams Ground pork
• 1 large Egg
• 75 grams Breadcrumbs
• 60 milliliters Milk
• 3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons Sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 1.5 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 400 grams Crushed tomatoes (canned)
• 250 milliliters Chicken broth
• 0.5 teaspoons Red chili flakes
• 3 tablespoons Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 leaf Bay leaf

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, 2 minced garlic cloves, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Mix until well incorporated without overworking the meat.

Step 2

Roll the mixture into small meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place on a tray and set aside.

Step 3

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, turning them gently to ensure even browning. Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set aside.

Step 4

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Sauté the chopped onion over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the remaining minced garlic clove and red chili flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 6

Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, and 0.5 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer.

Step 7

Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, ensuring they are submerged in the sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 8

Once cooked, remove the bay leaf and garnish the meatballs with freshly chopped parsley.

Step 9

Serve hot with crusty bread, rice, or pasta. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1775.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2739.9

Total Fat 184.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 62.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.6g
Cholesterol 781.9mg	0%
Sodium 6473.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 106.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.2g	0%
Total Sugars 29.7g
Protein 179.9g	0%

Vitamin D 81.0IU	0%
Calcium 451.4mg	0%
Iron 22.4mg	0%
Potassium 2936.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.1%

Protein: 25.7%

Carbs: 15.2%