Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are fabulous appetizer or main. Delicious tapas is made with black olives and fresh herbs are nestled in a rich red pepper and tomato red wine sauce.
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Super Moist and Tender
These little meatballs are going to knock your socks off. These Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are so tender and succulent and baked to perfect and finish the basting process in a rich and delicious red pepper and tomato red wine sauce.
Wish you could smell the lovely aroma from the sauce slowly cooking over the burner. It's going to make you so hungry to be sure to make lots of extra meatballs. Save a little wine for the cook.
Appetizer or Main
Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are the perfect little hot tapas idea. They can be made ahead and just re-heated before your guests arrive. These meatballs can also be eaten as a lunch or dinner with a nice tossed salad for a lower carb dinner.
If you are not watching your carbs, you will want some good crusty bread to lap up all of those delicious red pepper and tomato wine sauces. So good!
Ingredient Options
Did you know that Spanish meatballs can be made with ground turkey or even a mixture of ground pork, veal, beef, bison or even venison? However, these items are difficult and expensive to obtain in Hong Kong. We opted for the easy lean ground beef option.
Try Cracker Crumbs
We were completely out of bread crumbs and bread. However, we did have a box of these delightful black olive crackers from Mark and Spencer's . We were saving these crackers for a special occasion. This occasion is as special as any other.
If you add the cracker crumbs to these Spanish Meatballs, it takes this tapas dish to a whole new level! You can most certainly use gluten-free bread crumbs as well or tofu like we did with our Asian style venison meatballs.
Meatballs are LOOKING at you!
Do you plan out your recipes for every meal? Are you from the camp of looking to see what you have in the house and get creative? We do both. Black seedless olives just happened to be in our pantry. However, Kalamata or Spanish green olives would be lovely too.
Don't you just love how these meatballs with black olives look like they have eyeballs? Maybe, these Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are perfect to serve for Halloween. If you are looking for more delicious tender meatballs be sure to try our Thai Curry Turkey Tofu Meatballs and our Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs just to name a couple.
Rocking Tomato Wine Sauce
We were drinking a lovely Babich Winemakers Reserve Marlborough pinot nior from New Zealand. We decided to throw in a little in the sauce and the "cook" and it was delightful. Feel free to splash in a little of whatever your drinking at the time. However, a red full-bodied wine works best.
At first glance the recipe list may seem large. If you closely, some of the same ingredients are repeated such as the olive oil, paprika, basil and oregano. some are used in both the meatballs and in the sauce. We listed them twice as it is easier to read the directions.
Tapas Party
We made a double batch of Spanish Meatball Tapas for the holidays. One we consumed for dinner and one is in the freezer. We will be hosting over the holidays and undoubtedly we will have unexpected guests. Spanish Olive Meatball Tapas is something that can be reheated and served in just a few minutes flat.
A fun idea for gatherings is a Spanish Tapas theme with our Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce, Beef Empanadas topped with Chimichurri sauce, fruity sangrias, a Spanish cheese, cured meats and olives board and a sweet ending of the Best Orange Almond Flourless Cake.
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Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce
Ingredients
Spanish Meatballs
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
minced - 1.5 cups crackers crumbs
(We used Mark and Spencers Black olive crackers but you can exchange with gluten free breadcrumbs- put cracker in a sealed plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin until small crumbs) - 1 cup olives roughly chopped black seedless
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 egg
beaten - ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup parsley
chopped - salt and pepper
to taste
Red pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion
peeled and chopped - ¼ cup red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
peeled and minced - 1 cup red wine
- 24 oz basic tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C (375 degrees F)
- Make the Spanish Meatballs: Mix the ground beef, cracker crumbs, olives, paprika, basil, oregano, egg, olive oil parsley and salt and pepper. Mix well and form mixture into small 1.5 inch meatballs. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- In the meantime, make the sauce: In a large skillet, place olive oil, chopped onion, chopped red pepper, minced garlic and cook until translucent. Add red wine to the mixture and then add the red tomato sauce, paprika, basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add baked meatballs to the sauce to finish off cooking and baste for about 5 minutes.
- Enjoy as a delicious hot tapas or as a lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and maybe a slice of crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce.
Ali Crimmins says
Looks delicious!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Ali! These little Spanish meatballs are always a crowd pleaser. Take Care
Jim Orvis says
These are terrific! I make them often and I have for years now. Thanks again for a great recipe BAM!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Jim! so happy to hear that our Spanish Meatballs are a part of your menu. We love making these in advance and keeping them warm to serve in the slow cooker. Wishing you and your family and very safe and happy holiday season. Take Care
Ken says
I need more meatballs in my life -- these go on the TO DO list.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much. Our Spanish meatballs are always a huge crowd pleaser. Sometimes, we keep them warm in our slow cooker if having a gathering. Your to do list is getting long. (smiling)
Jim says
First time in my life that I made meatballs and I only have three words to say about this recipe. Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear Jim, I am so delighted that you tried and liked the meatballs. It is a super easy recipe and perfect for so many gatherings. Wishing you a super weekend. Take Care, BAM
Raymund says
Ohh those meatballs sound delicious, never thought of adding olives in meatballs, what a great idea.
Anyways Happy New Year to you and your family
Sharon @ savormania says
Yummy!!! Can't wait to try this one.