Top 5 Spanish Ground Meat Dishes

Albóndigas en salsa is a traditional dish that's typically eaten as a tapa. This appetizer consists of meatballs in rich tomato sauce. The small meatballs are often made with a combination of beef, pork, veal (or a combination of the three), breadcrumbs, parsley, eggs, garlic, flour, and seasonings, while the sauce is made with garlic, onions, tomatoes, red wine, olive oil, paprika, salt, and stock. Before cooking them in the sauce, the meatballs are usually lightly browned. When the sauce becomes thick, the dish is served, often with crusty bread and a glass of red wine on the side. It is believed that these meatballs originated as a Berber or Arab dish which was brought over to Spain during the Muslim rule. The name is derived from the Arabic word al-bunduq, meaning hazelnut, referring to the small size of the meatballs.Expand

Bocadillo de albóndigas is the Spanish version of the popular Italian-American meatball sandwich. It is typically made with a Spanish-style baguette called barra de pan, although other types of bread may also be used such as rustic bread or ciabatta. The filling consists of Spanish meatballs, which are known as albóndigas and are rather smaller than their Italian counterpart. The meatballs are usually made with pork, veal, or beef (or any combination of the three), eggs, bread, onions, garlic, parsley, Manchego cheese, salt, and black pepper, while the tomato sauce in which they’re cooked is typically flavored with smoked paprika and red wine. To assemble the sandwich, the bread is sliced along the middle, filled with several meatballs drenching in the rich tomato gravy, and topped with the other part of the bread. Other common ingredients used in the filling include lettuce, tomato slices, onion rings, mayonnaise, or mustard. This bocadillo variety is one of the most beloved bocadillo sandwiches in Barcelona.Expand

Berenjenas rellenas or stuffed eggplants is a traditional savory specialty originating from Spain. There are many versions of this dish regarding its preparation and the ingredients used for the filling. The eggplants are typically cut along the middle and baked until tender before they have their pulp removed, although they’re occasionally left raw and cooked with the filling. A variety of vegetables, vegetables and rice, or a combination of ground meat (usually pork and beef) and vegetables are most commonly used for stuffing the hollowed eggplants. Typical vegetables contained in the filling include tomatoes, zucchinis, onions, peppers, chili peppers, and mashed potatoes, while the mixture is usually flavored with garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, rosemary, or parsley. Other common additions to this specialty include sweet corn, slices of bacon, mushrooms, beans, béchamel sauce, or grated cheese such as Manchego or parmesan. The dish is also popular in Spanish-speaking countries such as Nicaragua. Expand

Tortos is a traditional dish originating from the Asturias region. This humble dish is made with a combination of corn flour, ground pork that’s seasoned with paprika (picadillo), and eggs. The tortos (corn fritters) are made with a combination of corn flour, wheat flour, salt, water, and olive oil. Although they can be made with corn flour only, the wheat flour is usually added for better consistency. The dough is shaped into balls which are then left to rest in the fridge for a few hours. Later on, the dough is flattened and fried in hot olive oil on both sides until golden. The tortas are topped with ground pork and fried eggs, and the dish is ready to be served. Tortos asturianos is especially popular in rural areas.Expand

Boles de picolat is a traditional Catalan dish in which meatballs and olives are simmered in a rich sauce. Other ingredients include carrots, garlic, cepes mushrooms, tomato purée, and olive oil. The meatballs are often prepared with a combination of pork and beef mince, flour, eggs, and onions. They're fried in olive oil, then combined with the sauce. Once prepared, the dish is served with white beans, chickpeas, or rice on the side. It's important to note that the dish and some of the ingredients vary from restaurant to restaurant.Expand