Puerto Rican Meatballs in Sofrito Sauce (Albondigas Guisadas)
Puerto Rican meatballs in sofrito sauce or albóndigas guisadas (think carne guisada but with meatballs!) are flavorful beef meatballs cooked in a savory sofrito sauce.
Ingredients
For Meatballs
- 1 lb carne molida
- 1 egg
- 1/4 taza milk
- 1/4 taza sofrito
- 1/4 taza plain breadcrumb
- 1/4 taza onion, finely grated
- 2 tbsp pimento stuffed green olives, finely diced
- 1 tsp ketchup
- 2 tsp onion soup mix
- 1/2 tbsp cebolla en polvo
- 1/2 tbsp ajo en polvo
- 1/2 tsp ground oregano
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- adobo, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil for searing the meatballs
For Sauce
- 1/4 taza sofrito
- 1 taza salsa de tomate
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced red, green, or yellow
- 1/2 taza water more if needed
- 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar can sub with white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp ground oregano
- 1 tsp sazon
- 1/4 taza pimento stuffed green olives, optional
- 1 handful cilantro sprigs, optional
Instructions
- To prepare meatballs, add beef and all the other ingredients in a bowl and mix together until well combined.
- Shape beef mixture into meatballs, about 15-18 medium or 8-10 large.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add meatballs to skillet and cook for a few minutes until brown on all sides. Remove from heat. Please note, the meatballs won't be fully cooked yet.
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add sofrito, tomato paste, chicken bouillon, onion and peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add water, vinegar, oregano, sazón, olives and cilantro (if using).
- Add the meatballs and roll them in the sauce to make sure they are evenly coated.
- Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until sauce thickens. Remove the cilantro sprigs.
- Serve over rice or with your side dishes of choice. Enjoy!