Cuban Meatballs Recipes

MEATBALLS CUBAN STYLE

Steps:

• Place the ground beef in a large bowl. Add half of the diced onions, salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper, ½ tablespoon parsley, egg and the bread crumbs. Mix the ground beef with your hands until all of the ingredients are incorporated.
• Form the ground beef into meatballs, roughly the size of a golf ball. Makes approximately 12 meatballs
• Add enough oil to a large, deep skillet to cover the bottom by about ¼ inch. Heat the oil over medium-high. When the oil is hot, carefully add the meatballs. Fry them, turning occasionally to brown on all sides. This will take 5 minutes or so. When the meatballs are browned, remove them from the skillet to a plate or pan.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the remaining onions. Cook the onions for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the minced garlic and cook another 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. Next, add the white wine and cook for just a minute or so, stirring and gently scrapping any bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the tomato sauce, bay leaf and ketchup, stir well to combine.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce, stir gently. Bring the sauce to a simmer, lower the heat to medium-low to low and cover. Cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Taste the sauce and add salt, if needed.
• Sprinkle the remaining parsley on the meatballs and serve with white rice.

CUBAN-STYLE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Add onions, peppers, garlic and cumin; cook 10 min. or until tender, stirring frequently. Spoon 3/4 cup vegetable mixture into blender. Add tomato sauce; blend until smooth.
• Add beans, beer, ham and blended sauce to onion mixture in saucepan; bring to boil.
• Mix ground beef, egg and 1/2 cup rice until blended; shape into 12 meatballs. Carefully add to boiling sauce; cover.
• Cook on medium heat 20 to 25 min. or until meatballs are done (165ºF). Serve with remaining rice. Top with cheese.

ALBONDIGAS - CUBAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix eggs, cracker crumbs, and milk together. Blend in the ground beef and all remaining ingredients.
• Form mixture into large balls(6-8). Roll in flour to lightly coat and sauté in olive oil until cooked through, remove and set a side while making the sauce in the same pan.
• To make sauce, sauté onion and green pepper in the remaining olive oil(add a tablespoon more if necessary) until translucent. Add mashed garlic during the last minute or two of frying. Drain thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Now add the meatballs back into the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low for about 30 minutes.