Here’s a comforting, classic recipe for Albóndigas con Fideos — Mexican-style meatballs with noodles 🍝🥩, perfect for a hearty family meal.
🍲 Albóndigas con Fideos (Meatballs with Noodles)
⏱ Time
- Prep: 25 minutes
- Cook: 25–30 minutes
- Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
For the Meatballs (Albóndigas)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/4 cup rice, uncooked
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin (optional)
For the Broth / Sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium tomatoes, blended or finely chopped
- 4 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 cup fideos (thin pasta noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Meatballs
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, rice, onion, garlic, egg, parsley, salt, pepper, and cumin.
- Mix gently until combined (don’t overwork).
- Shape into 1- to 1.5-inch balls. Set aside.
2️⃣ Make the Broth / Sauce
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
- Add blended tomatoes and cook 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add broth, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.
3️⃣ Cook the Meatballs
- Gently add meatballs to the simmering broth.
- Cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4️⃣ Add the Fideos
- Add broken noodles to the pot.
- Continue cooking 5–7 minutes or until noodles are tender and rice in meatballs is cooked.
5️⃣ Serve
- Ladle meatballs, noodles, and broth into bowls.
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley, a squeeze of lime, or grated cheese.
🌟 Tips
- For extra flavor, brown the meatballs lightly in a skillet before adding to the broth.
- Fideos cook quickly—keep an eye to prevent overcooking and turning mushy.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors meld.
I can also give a faster one-pot version with pre-cooked noodles that’s ready in 20 minutes while keeping the broth rich and flavorful.
Do you want me to do that?
