Mexican Meatballs Recipes

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the ground beef, bread crumbles, milk, cilantro, parsley, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Mix together well with your hands. Scoop out 1-tablespoon portions, then place 1 piece of cubed pepper jack into each portion and roll them into balls with your hands. Place the meatballs on the lined baking sheets and freeze for the meatballs to firm up, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in 5 batches of 25, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Cook, turning the meatballs to make sure they brown all over, 5 to 7 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels. Serve over rice, in tacos or as appetizers, recipes follow.
• To freeze: Put the cooked meatballs in a single layer on lined baking sheets and put in the freezer. Once frozen, divide them into freezer bags, about 25 per bag, and return them to the freezer.
• To reheat: Place the frozen meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
• For meatballs over rice (8 servings): Divide 2 cups cooked rice among 8 serving plates. Top with 3 meatballs each, then spoon on 2 tablespoons salsa and 2 tablespoons sour cream on each. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and add a wedge of lime to each plate.
• For meatball tacos (8 servings): Warm 8 large soft corn tortillas in a microwave, about 30 seconds. Put one on each serving plate, then top each with 2 tablespoons shredded iceberg lettuce, 3 meatballs, 2 tablespoons grated Cheddar and 2 tablespoons pico de gallo. Fold up and serve.
• For meatball appetizers (25 meatballs): Pour 1 1/2 cups guacamole into a bowl. Put the bowl on a platter and surround the bowl with 25 meatballs. Stick toothpicks into some of the meatballs. Put some spare toothpicks in a container and put on the platter. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Steps:

• For the red chile tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a 12-inch high-sided saute pan over high heat. Cook the onions and jalapenos until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, and then stir in the chili powder and coriander and cook 1 minute. Pour in 1 cup water and cook until reduced. Mix in the chipotles and tomatoes and bring a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper and honey, if using. Whisk in the crema, followed by the cilantro, and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• For the mexican meatballs: Grind the cubed meats using a hand-operated meat grinder fit with a medium dye. Combine the ground meats with the garlic and egg in a large bowl, and then add in 1/4 cup of the cilantro, the cheese, New Mexico chili powder, Mexican oregano, cumin and cayenne pepper. Gently mix together until combined. Begin mixing in the breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together. Mix in some salt and black pepper, and form the meat into 2-inch balls. Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until brown all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock and cook until the liquid is mostly reduced and the meatballs are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the Red Chile Tomato Sauce, queso fresco and additional cilantro leaves.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan. Cook the onion for 8-10 mins until soft, then remove from the pan.
• Meanwhile, place the mince, breadcrumbs, spices and chipotle paste in a bowl, season generously and mix thoroughly. Roll mixture into 20 walnut-sized meatballs. Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the meatballs for about 8 mins until brown all over.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice following pack instructions. Return the onion to the pan, adding the tomatoes, as well as a can full of water. Simmer for 5 mins, then add the kidney beans and cook for a further 10 mins, until the sauce has thickened and the meatballs are cooked through. Season the meatballs, scatter with coriander and serve with the rice.

Steps:

• Combine ground beef, 1/2 of the taco seasoning package, 1/2 cup salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, egg and salt/pepper to taste.
• Shape mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and brown in large skillet in the peanut oil.
• Drain meatballs on paper towels.
• In a 2 quart sauce pan, add the tomato sauce, remaining salsa, taco seasoning and meatballs.
• Simmer for 30 minutes.