Meatballs & Saffron-Scented Almond Sauce
In Spain, the very best meatballs are set in a pool of saffron-scented sauce made creamy with almonds! Meatballs with Almond Sauce, known in Spain as Albóndigas con Salsa Almendras is an incredibly rich and flavorful celebration of the Marcona almond season in Spain, flavored with lemon and saffron. This dish is as a perfect Spanish side dish to a multi-course meal or even Spanish main dish if you make the cocktail meatballs a little bit bigger!
Ingredients
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, chicken (or veal), fresh breadcrumbs, dried breadcrumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, nutmeg, garlic, egg, and warm water. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Use a scoop to portion out the meat mixture and shape it into meatballs of your desired size.
Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer the browned meatballs to a baking pan.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the baking pan with the meatballs in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until cooked through.
Meanwhile, prepare the almond sauce. In the same pan used for cooking the meatballs, add the almonds and toast them until browned. Remove the almonds from the pan and transfer them to a blender.
In the same pan, add the halved garlic cloves and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Add the piece of bread and diced onion, and cook until the onion becomes translucent. Remove from heat and drain off any excess oil.
Add the fried almonds, garlic, bread, and onions to the blender. Blend until smooth.
Return the blended mixture to the pan and place it over medium heat. Add the white wine and cook for a few minutes to reduce slightly.
Add the ham stock, lemon zest, and saffron (softened in warm water) to the pan. Cook the sauce until it reaches a creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Once the meatballs are cooked, pour the almond sauce over them and serve hot.
And if you want to learn more details about how easy it is to make this dish, just click on the video below and watch it now!
