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Albóndigas en salsa

Non-vegetarian

Albóndigas en salsa de tomate

Tender beef and pork meatballs browned and simmered in a paprika-scented tomato and white wine sauce. A tapas-bar classic and family favourite.

Albóndigas en salsa is a Spanish main course from Spain, ready in about 1 hour 5 minutes and made with ground beef, ground pork and canned tomatoes. It serves 4 and is rated easy to cook.

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Tasty meatballs garnished with parsley in a vibrant tomato sauce, perfect for any meal.
Photo: ERIVELTO Martins / Pexels · Pexels License
Prep
25 min
Cook
40 min
Total
1 h 5 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy
Calories
560

Ingredients

4 servings

For the meatballs

For the sauce

Method

  1. Step 1

    Soak the breadcrumbs (opens in a new tab) in the milk (opens in a new tab) for a few minutes, then mix with the beef, pork, egg (opens in a new tab), garlic (opens in a new tab), parsley (opens in a new tab) and salt. Roll into walnut-sized balls and dust lightly with flour.

    • 15 min

    Food safety: Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.

  2. Step 2

    Brown the meatballs in the oil in batches in a wide pan. Set aside.

    Meat searing in a hot pan
    How it looks · Photo: Skylar Kang on Pexels
  3. Step 3

    In the same pan, soften the onion (opens in a new tab) and garlic (opens in a new tab), stir in the paprika (opens in a new tab), then add the wine and let it bubble for a minute. Add the tomatoes, stock and salt.

    • 10 min
    • medium heat
    Onions frying golden in a pan
    How it looks · Photo: Magda Ehlers on Pexels
  4. Step 4

    Return the meatballs and simmer gently, covered, until cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

    • 20 min
    • low heat

    Food safety: Meatballs should reach 71 °C in the centre.

    A curry simmering in a pot
    How it looks · Photo: Bachir Mamud on Pexels

About this dish

Origin
Spain · Well documentedMore food from Spain
Dish
Lunch · Dinner · Main courses · Appetizers & starters
Cooking method
Pan-fried, Simmered
Taste
savoury, tangy, smoky, garlicky
Diet
No nut ingredients · Low-carb · High-protein
All labelsNon-vegetarian · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Low-carb · High-protein
Worked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Freezer-friendly · Make-ahead · Child-friendly
Techniques
Pan-frying · Simmering

Allergens

  • Contains: Milkfrom breadcrumbs, milk
  • Contains: Eggsfrom egg
  • Contains: Wheatfrom breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour
  • Contains: Glutenfrom breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour
  • May contain: Soyfrom breadcrumbs
  • May contain: Sesamefrom breadcrumbs
  • May contain: Celeryfrom chicken stock
  • Contains, can be adapted: Sulphitesfrom dry white wine

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

560 kcal per serving

Calculated

1 serving ≈ 375 g · recipe makes 4

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 21%
  • Carbohydrate 15%
  • Fat 64%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy560 kcal149 kcal
Protein28.5 g7.6 g
Carbohydrate20.6 g5.5 g
Net carbohydrate17.4 g4.6 g
Sugars——
Added sugars0 g0 g
Fibre3.3 g0.9 g
Fat38.3 g10.2 g
Saturated fat11 g2.9 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol136 mg36 mg
Sodium930 mg248 mg
Salt equivalent2.3 g0.6 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
750 mg
Calcium
113 mg
Iron
4.1 mg
Magnesium
51 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
72 µg
Vitamin C
19 mg
Vitamin D
—
Vitamin B12
2.2 µg
Folate (DFE)
60 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • Blend the sauce smooth before returning the meatballs for a classic tapas-bar finish.

Common mistakes

  • Packing the mixture tightly when rolling, which makes the meatballs dense; roll lightly with damp hands.

Serve with

  • Serve with crusty bread, rice or chips.

Storage

  • Keeps 3 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen.

Reheating

  • Reheat gently, covered, until piping hot.

Variations

  • Albóndigas en salsa de almendras (Spain): Simmered in a sauce thickened with ground almonds and saffron.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Built from the recipe’s own sections. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

For the meatballs

Used in steps 1, 3

Reviews & corrections

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