Baked Peruvian Meatballs Recipe
A perfect tapas/appetizer for a special party (New Year's Eve or Super Bowl?), these Baked Peruvian Style Meatballs pack a flavorful punch with cilantro, cumin, and aji amarillo (or other chile pepper)! Dipped in a tasty Aji Verde, your guests will be back for seconds...
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Ingredients
- 1 bunch cilantro - cut at the base of the leaves
- 1 small onion cut in chunks
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic - about 3 cloves
- 1 pound ground meat - 90/10 grass fed beef
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons ají amarillo pepper - minced; see Ingredients for more info
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- several grinds of pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Add cilantro leaves (and small stems are fine), onion cut in chunks, and garlic to the bowl of food processor. Pulse several times until finely minced and well-combined.
- Scoop into a sieve placed over a large bowl. Press with a spatula to remove liquid. Discard liquid, and add solids to the bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients to the bowl. Go ahead and get your hands dirty. Mix those meatballs thoroughly!
- Form into balls. I used a mini-muffin pan with 12 cups. This makes 12 approximately 2" meatballs. You can do them smaller or larger, but be sure to adjust the time accordingly.
- Bake until the meatballs are browned and firm to the touch.
- Serve with desired sauce(s).
Notes
- As I wrote in the post, Peruvian ingredients are becoming available in more cities, but if you can't find them, you can substitute finely chopped jalapeno, Fresno, or other fresh chile. If you like it hot, rocoto is another good option.
- I serve these meatballs with roasted potato wedges. Simply scrub, cut in wedges, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in the preheated oven ahead of the meatballs. They'll get a 15-20 minute head start while you make the meatballs.
Nutrition
Serving: 3meatballs | Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 13g
NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or star rating! Email us with any questions: tamara@beyondmeresustenance.com