the ultimate easy meatballs
Albondigas—Spanish for meatballs—are a beloved staple in my home and my ultimate comfort food. Forget the classic spaghetti pairing; these flavor-packed morsels are versatile enough to complement just about any dish, or to eat by themselves.
Servings
20 medium meatballs
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Here's a pro tip: make a big batch ahead of time! Store them in the fridge or freeze for later, so you'll always have these scrumptious treats on hand when you need that perfect, savory boost of protein. Enjoy creating and savoring every bite!
Ingredients
-
1 lb high quality grass fed organic beef
-
1 medium onion, finely chopped
-
4 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
-
1 cup bread cut in small cubes
-
1 tsp ground cumin
-
1 tsp turmeric
-
1 tsp salt
-
ground pepper
-
handful of fresh herbs, chopped- mint,
-
dill,
-
1 egg
-
½ cup olive oil
- Cooking & Prep:
-
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven (Various Sizes): With superior heat retention and a beautiful design, this dutch oven is ideal for simmering meatballs in sauce.
-
John Boos Block Maple Cutting Board: A classic, durable cutting board for prepping ingredients.
-
Wüsthof Classic Ikon Knife Set: High-quality knives for precise chopping and slicing.
-
Viking Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls: Durable and versatile for mixing meatball ingredients. They’re easy to clean and maintain.
-
OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop: This cookie scoop — in 3 sizes— ensures uniform meatball sizes for even cooking with a comfortable grip.
- Serving & Dining:
-
Italian Ceramic Serving Platter: A beautiful platter for serving meatballs and sauce.
-
Alessi Stainless Steel Serving Tongs: Stylish and functional tongs for serving meatballs.
-
Riedel Vinum Wine Glasses: These wine glasses enhance the enjoyment of wine served with meatballs. They’re specifically designed for different wine varieties.
-
Mauviel Copper Serving Spoon: A beautiful copper serving spoon to serve the sauce and meatballs.
-
Fine Linen Napkins: High quality linen napkins to complete the dining experience.
Items to ELEVATE and Serve Up Your Meatball Recipe!
Directions
Place the beef in a bowl and add onions, garlic and bread. Season with salt, pepper, cumin and turmeric. Add the herbs. Whisk the egg in a bowl and add it to the mixture. Use your hands to mash everything together evenly.
Do a taste test by taking a spoonful of the mixture and cooking it on the pan for a couple of minutes on each side. Taste and make any adjustment necessary to the spices.
Once you’re satisfied begin shaping the meatballs. It doesn’t matter what size you make them as long as they’re evenly sized so they can cook at the same rate.
Line them up on a plate or baking dish and put them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
Place a skillet over medium high heat and sear the meatballs turning them frequently until all sides are golden. Lower the heat and continue turning them until they’re fully cooked, the timing depends on their size. Check to see if they’re done by slicing one open.
Serve over rice, pasta, quinoa or over a salad.
Donna Mueller on
Hi Marianne
Can you substitute ground turkey for the beef?
Thanks!
Jane Ryan on
Thank you for the Ultimate Easy Meatball recipe! It sounds so tasty with the different spices & herbs. In addition, it is so easy & simple to make! I do plan on making it soon.
Diane on
Can’t wait to try these. They look great. And on a salad sounds even better. Thanks!