Meatballs with almond sauce

To the point
The recipe

Meatballs with almond sauce

Recipe by Bernie Torras
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: Main courseCuisine: SpanishDifficulty: Medium
Servings

6

servings
Preparation time

45

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories (approx.)

440

kcal
Resting time

0

minutes
Refrigeration time

0

minutes
Total time

1

hour 

30

minutes

These juicy beef and pork meatballs are seasoned with garlic and parsley, browned and finished in a rich almond sauce with a touch of white wine. A comforting recipe with traditional Spanish flavours. While the sauce reduces and the meatballs absorb its flavour, enjoy the selected playlist and let the music accompany your cooking.

Modo cocción

Mantén encendida la pantalla de tu dispositivo mientras cocinas

Ingredientes

  • For the meatballs
  • 500 g Minced meat (50% beef and 50% pork)

  • 1 Garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped

  • 1 Egg, beaten

  • 50 g White bread for soaking

  • 3 tbsp Water for soaking the bread

  • 1 Onion, finely diced

  • 2 c.s. Chopped parsley

  • Nutmeg (very little)

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Flour for coating

  • Olive oil for frying

  • For the almond sauce
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil

  • 115 g Marcona almonds

  • 150 ml White wine

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • 25 g White bread for frying

  • 2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 450 ml Vegetable stock

Pasos

  • For the meatballs
  • Soak the 50 g of white bread in 3 tablespoons of water and drain off any excess. In a large bowl, combine the minced beef and pork, finely diced onion, garlic, chopped parsley, soaked and drained bread and beaten egg. Add a pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Mix until evenly combined.
  • Take small portions of the mixture and shape into walnut-sized meatballs, making about 30. Lightly coat each meatball in flour to prevent sticking.
  • Heat enough oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs in batches until browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a small casserole.
  • For the almond sauce
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the 25 g of white bread and the Marcona almonds. Fry until the bread and almonds are golden.
  • Add the chopped garlic and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Pour in the 150 ml of white wine and reduce until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Add the vegetable stock gradually while blending until the sauce is smooth and slightly thick.
  • Return the blended sauce to the saucepan and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes to bring the flavours together.
  • With 5 minutes of sauce cooking time remaining, add the reserved meatballs and let them cook together. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
  • Pour the sauce over the meatballs in the small casserole to cover them well. Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley just before serving.

Notas

  • A teaspoon of cumin or sweet paprika can add more depth of flavour.
  • Do not let the garlic burn, as it can make the sauce bitter. Cook it until translucent and fragrant.
  • The almond sauce also works well with an entrecôte steak, monkfish or cod.
  • Yield: about 30 meatballs for 6 people; approximately 5 meatballs per person, with their share of the sauce.
  • Estimated nutrition per serving: one sixth of the recipe, including the sauce and excluding side dishes. Assumptions used only for this calculation: 250 g of ground beef with 13.1% fat and 250 g of ground pork with 16% fat; 20 g of flour incorporated; and 47 g of oil consumed in total (27 g in the sauce and 20 g absorbed during frying).
  • Estimate based on USDA FoodData Central composition data, using ground veal as a composition proxy for the beef, blanched almonds for Marcona almonds and vegetable stock providing 6 kcal per 100 ml. Assumes a 50 g egg without its shell, a 150 g onion and retention of 40% of the wine’s initial alcohol. Total carbohydrate includes fiber. Actual values vary with the ingredients and frying; cooked serving weight, salt and sodium are not estimated.

Nutrition facts (per serving)*

  • Calories: 440kcal
  • Fat: 31.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 16.6g
  • Fiber: 3.0g
  • Sugar: 3.0g
  • Protein: 22.4g
Instagram

Have you made this recipe? I want to see it!

Tag @pucheromix on Instagram with the hashtag #mipuchero

If you are looking for 10

Key points of the recipe

  • Soak the white bread thoroughly and drain it before adding it to the meat. This helps the meatballs stay tender and hold together.
  • Heat the oil well before frying the meatballs to give them a golden surface.
  • Allow the wine to reduce while making the sauce to concentrate its flavour.

Pairing with wine

The beef and pork meatballs and creamy almond sauce suit a wine with body and good acidity. The recipe suggests a medium- to full-bodied Chardonnay or Viognier, with white and tropical fruit notes and moderate to high acidity. Optional oak ageing adds vanilla and toasted notes that can complement the almonds. An oak-aged Burgundy Chardonnay or a Rhône Valley Viognier with peach and pear aromas are the suggested examples. Strongly tannic reds, such as some Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah wines, may dominate the sauce. Sweet wines can clash with the garlic and spices. For a red option, choose a light Pinot Noir or a fruity Garnacha with good acidity and soft tannins.

Beer pairing

The recipe suggests a Belgian Dubbel, whose toasted malt, caramel, nut and spice notes complement the almonds, nutmeg and meat. Fruity hints of plums and raisins and a medium to medium-full body suit the rich sauce. A typical alcohol content of 6–7.5% gives it enough presence, while gentle hop bitterness balances the richness. Strongly bitter or resinous IPAs may overpower the delicate sauce, and very light lagers may lack the body to complement it.

Careful!

Typical allergens

Avoid this recipe if any diner has allergies* to: Gluten, Eggs, Tree nuts, Sulphur dioxide and sulphites

* In Puchero MIX we inform you about the most typical allergens in this dish. However, we recommend that you ask all diners if they have any specific food allergies. In addition, we recommend checking the labels of all individual ingredients to ensure that they do not contain traces of other allergens, as conditions may vary by producer or manufacturer.

You may be interested in
Other recipes with
Other recipes that pair with
Share this recipe
Scroll to Top