Almondigas

A meatball and noodle soup, it is quite probable that the Filipino almondigas is an adaptation of the Mexican meatball soup called albondigas. If you’re wondering what the connection is between the Philippines and Mexico, two words — galleon trade.

Unlike Mexican albondigas, the meatballs in Filipino almondigas contain no rice. But rice is present in the soup albeit in another form. Misua, fine rice noodles that originated in China, is added to the soup toward the end of cooking.

And unlike Mexican albondigas, the broth of Filipino almondigas is clear because tomatoes are not included in the ingredients.

Almondigas

Recipe by Connie Veneracion

This is an old recipe from my grandmother — with a few personal tweaks.

First, bone broth. My grandmother used plain water as a base for the soup and relied heavily on the spice base and the flavors in the meatballs that find their way into the liquid. I use bone broth for my almondigas for a richer flavor.

Second, I added grated carrot to the meatballs for more flavor, texture and color.

Apart from those two, it’s still my grandmother’s almondigas.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Soup

Cuisine Filipino

Servings 4 people

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  

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For the meatballs

• ½ kilo ground pork
• ½ carrot grated
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg lightly beaten

To complete the dish

• ¾ cup cooking oil
• 5 cups bone broth
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
• 1 small onion sliced
• fish sauce (if broth is unsalted)
• pepper
• 2 bundles misua (available in Asian groceries)
• ¾ cup finely sliced scallions

Instructions

 

• Mix together all the ingredients for the meat balls. Form into balls about 2 inches in diameter.
• Heat the cooking oil in a frying pan.
• Fry the meatballs in hot oil, rolling the balls around in oil to brown evenly.
• Once lightly browned, remove from the wok or skillet and drain on paper towels.
• Heat a sauce pan or casserole.
• Transfer a tablespoon of cooking oil from the frying pan.
• Saute the garlic and onion until the onion is soft.
• Pour in the broth. Bring to a boil.
• Add the meat balls. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for ten minutes.
• Taste and add fish and pepper, as needed.
• Off the heat, add the misua and cover for another five minutes.
• Transfer to a soup tureen and top with sliced scallions.
• Serve hot.

Notes

Updated from a post originally published in 07/12/2003.

Keyword Meatballs, Noodle Soup, Noodles

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