Albondigas Con Chipotle (Meatballs In Chipotle Sauce)
Recipe: #9783
June 05, 2013
Categories: Ground Beef, Mexican, Spanish, Cinco de Mayo, Game/Sports Day, Potluck, Sunday Dinner, Non-Dairy, Fresh Tomatoes, Hot Peppers, Spicy, Beef Dinner, Mexican Dinner, Ground Beef Dinner, more
"(Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce) Albóndigas, Spanish for meatballs, is a popular Mexican dish. In this recipe, the sauce gets its spicy, roasted flavor from chipotle peppers (smoked jalapeños packed in adobo sauce), which add a smoky flavor and a broad, lingering heat. Serve over white rice, or with rice and beans for an entrée, or as individiual hors d'oeuvres."
Original is 6 servings
Ingredients
Nutritional
- Serving Size: 1 (268.8 g)
- Calories 327.6
- Total Fat - 20.1 g
- Saturated Fat - 5.9 g
- Cholesterol - 182.8 mg
- Sodium - 147.6 mg
- Total Carbohydrate - 10.4 g
- Dietary Fiber - 2.2 g
- Sugars - 4.4 g
- Protein - 26 g
- Calcium - 56.9 mg
- Iron - 4.5 mg
- Vitamin C - 21.3 mg
- Thiamin - 0.2 mg
Step by Step Method
Step 1
To roast tomatoes, grill or broil them as close to heat as possible, turning as needed, until skin is blackened in spots, about 3 minutes on each side.
Step 2
Cool.
Step 3
When cool enough to handle, remove skins. Reserve.
Step 4
Combine beef, bread crumbs, chopped garlic, eggs, 2 teaspoons cumin, salt, and pepper.
Step 5
Cover mixture, and let chill in refrigerator.
Step 6
In a blender or food processor, blend reserved tomatoes with chipotles, stock, whole garlic cloves, remaining cumin, and oregano.
Step 7
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet.
Step 8
Add the tomato sauce, season to taste with additional salt and pepper, and bring mixture to a boil.
Step 9
Meanwhile, make uniform medium-sized meatballs from meat mixture.
Step 10
Add meatballs to simmering sauce and cook about 25 minutes.
Step 11
Serve as an entrée over rice, or alone as an hors d'oeuvre.
Tips
No special items needed.
Editorial Notes
The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.
- Use the freshest tomatoes you can find for the best flavor.
- Chipotle chiles can be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores.
- Ground turkey instead of ground beef: Ground turkey is a leaner alternative to ground beef and can be a healthier choice. It also has a milder flavor, which will allow the flavors of the chipotle peppers to come through more prominently.
- Panko bread crumbs instead of regular bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs are coarser and larger than traditional bread crumbs, which will result in a crunchier texture for the meatballs. This can add an interesting contrast to the smooth sauce.
Vegetarian Variation Replace the ground beef with a plant-based protein such as crumbled tofu, tempeh, or seitan. Omit the eggs. Increase the bread crumbs to 6 tablespoons. Cook the meatballs in the sauce for about 15 minutes.
Asian-Style Variation Replace the ground beef with ground pork. Add 1 teaspoon of grated ginger, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce to the mixture. Increase the bread crumbs to 6 tablespoons. Cook the meatballs in the sauce for about 15 minutes.
Mexican Street Corn Salad - This dish is the perfect accompaniment to Albondigas Con Chipotle. The sweetness of the corn and the creamy mayonnaise and Cotija cheese balance out the spiciness of the chipotle sauce. It's a great side dish to add a bit of crunch and texture to the meal!
Chile Relleno Casserole: This cheesy, spicy dish is the perfect accompaniment to Albondigas Con Chipotle. The mild heat of the roasted poblano peppers and the gooey melted cheese balance out the spiciness of the chipotle sauce. It's a great side dish to add a bit of flavor and comfort to the meal!
FAQ
Q: How do I make the meatballs?
A: To make the meatballs, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, chopped garlic, eggs, 2 teaspoons cumin, salt, and pepper. Form the mixture into medium-sized meatballs and add them to the simmering sauce. Cook for about 25 minutes.
Q: How can I make the sauce?
A: To make the sauce, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and garlic and cook until softened. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, and a pinch of sugar. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Fun facts:
The dish Albondigas Con Chipotle is said to have been served at the wedding of the Spanish king and queen in the 16th century.
The Mexican actor, Gael García Bernal, is said to be a fan of the dish Albondigas Con Chipotle and has been known to prepare it for his friends at dinner parties.