Best Brazilian Meat Balls Almôndegas Recipes

MAMA'S OLD-FASHIONED ALBONDIGAS (MEATBALL SOUP)

Steps:

• Pour water into a large stockpot over high heat. Stir in 3 cups tomato sauce, yellow onion, chicken bouillon, garlic, and 1 tablespoon dried oregano. Bring broth to a slow boil.
• Combine ground beef, eggs, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, white rice, 1/4 cup cilantro, seasoned salt, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and cumin in a large bowl. Squeeze mixture with your hands until thoroughly mixed.
• Scoop 1/4 cup of beef mixture and form in a ball. Lower gently into boiling broth. Repeat with remaining beef mixture.
• Stir potatoes, carrots, and celery into the broth. Cover and simmer until meatballs and potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini and cabbage. Cover and simmer until cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice and garnish with avocado and 1/4 cup cilantro.

ALBONDIGAS CON PICADA DE ALMENDRA (MEATBALLS IN AN ALMOND SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the pork, veal, garlic, breadcrumbs, spices, egg and season with salt and pepper. Mix by hand until the mixture is smooth and leaves the side of the bowl. Refrigerate covered for one hour.
• When ready to cook, roll tablespoons of the mixture into small 1-inch balls.
• Heat one tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan and brown half the meatballs on medium-high heat (3 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
• Add the remaining oil, if necessary, and brown the other half of the meat balls. Drain on paper towels. Set aside the meatballs while making the sauce.
• Lower the heat and add onion. Cook until golden and caramelized. Add tomato and cook for one minute. Stir in the wine, broth and add the bay leaf. Add the meatballs back to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile combine parsley, garlic, 1/8 tsp salt, saffron, almonds and paprika in a blender or mini-food processor. Pulverize into a paste. Add this mixture, along with the peas, to the meatballs and cook for 15 more minutes.

ALBONDIGAS

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, bring water, carrots, potatoes, onion, salsa, and bouillon cubes to a boil. Reduce to a medium simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 10 minutes.
• Mix the beef, breadcrumbs, and milk together in a bowl. Form into 1-inch meatballs, and drop into boiling broth. Once soup returns to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low.
• Cover and cook 20 minutes, or until meatballs are no longer pink in center and vegetables are tender. Serve with sprinkled cilantro for garnish.

ALBONDIGAS ESTILO MAMA MEATBALLS LIKE MAMA MAKES

Steps:

• Combine masa harina with warm water. Mix ground meat with prepared masa, salt, pepper, garlic. Make meatballs about 1-inch round, about the size of a walnut. Set aside.
• In medium saute pan heat 2 tablespoons lard or oil over medium heat. Add 1 whole garlic clove. Let cook for 20 seconds, press with back of a cooking spoon to release the flavor. Remove the garlic. Set aside.
• Brown the flour in the lard until dark golden color, about 1 minute. Heat stock in soup pot or large Dutch oven until warm and add flour mixture. Bring to a boil and lower heat to simmer stock for 5 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil in large frying pan, add chopped scallion, tomato, chiles and the reserved 2 garlic cloves, minced, stir well to combine. Cook for 2 minutes and add to stock. Add cilantro and mint and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the meatballs to the stock and simmer over low fire for 15 minutes or until done.

ALBONDIGAS

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook onion, garlic and ½ cup tomato sauce with olive oil until onion is tender. Add broth and ½ cup tomato sauce; bring to a simmer., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix ground beef, rice, egg, salt, pepper, milk, cumin, saffron, crushed crackers and remaining ½ cup tomato sauce until combined. With wet hands, form into 1-in. balls. Gently add meatballs to simmering broth; cook, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes. If desired, serve with tostadas and cabbage and garnish with cilantro.