Spanish Meatballs with Red Wine Sauce

Spanish meatballs with red wine sauce are dark, glossy, and deeply flavourful. Red wine enriches the sauce, creating a rustic yet elegant dish. Served with bread, rice, or vegetables, it’s perfect for festive gatherings or a comforting Saturday night dinner at home.

Course Main Course

Cuisine European, Mediterranean, Spanish

Keyword Elegant recipe, Glossy sauce, Hearty sauce, Red wine, Rich flavour, Rustic dinner, Savoury albondigas, Spanish meatballs, Spanish wine, Wine sauce

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Servings Servings

Calories 440

Author Spooning & Forking

Ingredients

300 g Minced beef
300 g Minced pork
1 Onion small, finely chopped
3 cloves Garlic minced
50 g Breadcrumbs
1 Egg medium
2 tbsp milk full fat
1 tsp Smoked paprika
½ tsp Thyme dried
3 tbsp Olive oil extra virgin
400 g Tomatoes tinned, chopped
2 tbsp Tomato Puree
200 ml Red wine Rioja Crianza preferred
150 ml Beef stock
1 Bay leaf
2 tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped
Sea salt to taste
Black pepper freshly ground, to taste

Instructions

Mix beef, pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Roll into meatballs and place on a tray.
Heat olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches until golden all over, then remove to a plate.
Add tomato purée to the pan and cook until it darkens. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer until reduced by half. Add chopped tomatoes, beef stock, and bay leaf. Return the meatballs, cover, and simmer gently for 25 minutes until cooked through. Sprinkle parsley over before serving.

Notes

Choosing the right wine is essential. Rioja Crianza is reliable, offering balanced acidity and oakiness. Avoid wines that are overly tannic, as they can make the sauce harsh. A Garnacha also works well for a fruitier style.

The beef and pork combination creates juiciness, while thyme lends subtle herbal notes. Tomato purée deepens the sauce’s colour and enhances umami, especially when caramelised at the start.

Nutrition