Mexican and Latin Recipes/ Pork/ Sauces/Condiments

Pork Meatballs in a quick Verde Sauce

Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce –  Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce.Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce ~ Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce ~ The Complete Savorist If there was ever a dish that wanted to be made, it was this one.

The idea and subsequent recipe was created about three weeks ago.  One thing after another got in the way of making it. Finally, I was going to make it, I had thawed the meat, the verde sauce ingredients were purchased and then something (I don’t remember what) came up and I couldn’t get the recipe made.  When I returned to it, the peppers had turned. UGH. The meat needed to be used, so I used that up in another dish.

Another week passed, ingredients were repurchased. Nothing was getting in my way keeping me from making these Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce.  Onions, peppers, and tomatillos were prepped; dry goods were measured out; ground pork, eggs and such were in their bowl. I get the veggies sautéed, then pureed with my immersion blender.  The meatballs are formed and a few had been dropped into the sauce to begin their steam bath.

I kept tasting the sauce, it was good, but it was not right.  In fact, it was head-scratchingly wrong. I looked around the kitchen, I glossed over my written recipe.  I kept tasting.  Nothing was clicking.  I have made chile verde before, I know how it should taste.  Sure, I was not making the roasted and slow cooked version.  I was going for a quick stove top, weeknight version, but still, this was not tasting the way it should.

Frustration was mounting. And then I saw it.  Sitting in the corner, just chillin’ out. C I L A N T R O!!!Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce ~ Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce ~ The Complete Savorist I forgot the cilantro.

I FOR-GOT THE CI-LAN-TRO. (Can you hear my tone?)

I pulled out the meatballs, added the chopped herb, re-pureed the sauce, re-tasted sauce and re-dropped the meatballs back into the now re-simmering sauce.

Finally, it was correct. I had a friend and her daughter over and she just laughed at me.  In the end, I laughed too.  And then I delighted in the deliciousness that is this dish!Ingredients for Pork Meatballs in Verde Sauce ~ The Complete Savorist

Pork Meatballs in a quick Verde Sauce

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Michelle De La Cerda
Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce ~ Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce
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Ingredients

Verde Sauce

  • 8 tomatillos; chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper; chopped
  • 1/2 large onion; chopped
  • 1 poblano pepper; chopped
  • 1 cup cilantro; chopped
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1/3 tsp salt and pepper; to taste
  • 1/2 tbsp oregano
  • 1-15 oz can broth

Pork Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup panko
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 cloves garlic; grated
  • 1 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1-4 oz can diced green chilies
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/3 cup queso fresco

Instructions

Verde Sauce

  1. Soak the tomatillos in warm water for about 5 minutes to loosen the husks, then remove the husks, clean the skins and quarter-cut.
  2. Heat a large skillet with oil to medium-high, and add the onions, garlic, salt/pepper, and peppers, cook for two minutes then add the tomatillos; cook for 5 more minutes.
  3. Add the cilantro, broth, and oregano, bring to a high simmer.
  4. Once the tomatillos have softened, using a stick or immersion blender, puree until mostly smooth, you can use a regular blender or a food processor.
  5. Bring to a high simmer add the meatballs...

Pork Meatballs

  1. Mix all the ingredients together and form small meatballs.
  2. Drop the meatballs into the simmering verde sauce.
  3. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the meatballs have cooked through while the sauce reduces.
  4. Serve with queso fresco.

Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce ~ Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce ~ The Complete Savorist

If you’re not a pork fan, using ground turkey would be amazing. Eating this along side some black beans would just be utterly amazing. Personally, I’d love them with this Corn and Black Beans dish. I think they’d also go great along side my Cuban Yellow Rice. What type of side dish would you serve with these pork meatballs in a quick verde sauce?Pork Meatballs in a Quick Verde Sauce ~ Seasoned ground pork formed into meatballs and cooked in a simmering stove top verde sauce ~ The Complete Savorist

 

Thank you for sharing!

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30 Comments

  • Reply
    Arman @ thebigmansworld
    March 23, 2015 at 4:16 am

    Can we have this at Thanksgiving too, minus the cilantro? Please? Pretty please? PRETTY DAMN PLEASE?

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 23, 2015 at 10:29 am

      I will omit the cilantro for you my dear.

  • Reply
    Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
    March 23, 2015 at 6:06 am

    Michelle, so love Verde sauce! And the fact that you went back and added the cilantro made me chuckle to know I am not alone at forgetting ingredients at times. These look great.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 23, 2015 at 10:30 am

      Kristen, thank you for making me feel better! These are wonderful, the cilantro made all the difference.

  • Reply
    Betsy @ Desserts Required
    March 23, 2015 at 6:18 am

    Sooooo glad you figured this one out! Cilantro would make the pop, for sure. NOW, I want these meatballs.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 23, 2015 at 10:31 am

      Thank you Betsy, the cilantro does make all the difference

  • Reply
    allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
    March 23, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    Michelle — awesome meatballs. Thanks for persevering! Love cilantro… so yum!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 23, 2015 at 3:49 pm

      Thank you Allie, The recipe was so perfect in my head that I needed it to be perfect on the plate

  • Reply
    Des @ Life's Ambrosia
    March 23, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    Great minds think alike! I posted a pork meatball recipe today too. Loving the verde sauce with these!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 24, 2015 at 1:53 am

      I saw your post as well, stir frying yours was genius.

  • Reply
    Catherine
    March 23, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    Dear Michelle, This sounds and looks absolutely marvelous. I want to dig right in..this is my kind of meal. xo, Catherine

  • Reply
    lizzy
    March 24, 2015 at 8:35 am

    I am not as huge on pork BUT this sauce looks unreal. I will try this on turkey meatballs for sure!!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Yes, it would be utterly amazing with turkey.

  • Reply
    Jamie @ Coffee With Us 3
    March 24, 2015 at 1:25 pm

    Funny story! Glad you got it figured out though! These look delicious, and they will definitely be happening at my house soon! Pinning!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Thank you Jamie. Nothing like being stumped in the kitchen.

  • Reply
    Betty
    March 24, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    Tour meat balls look great and love verde sauce. A must due reciepe.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Thank you, you will enjoy this.

  • Reply
    Sandra - The Foodie Affair
    March 24, 2015 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    Doesn’t cilantro make such a delicious difference in sauces?! Great meal!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Yes, I am so happy I love cilantro now. Thanks Sandra.

  • Reply
    Stephanie Stuart
    March 26, 2015 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    Scrumptious! Love the tomatillos addition! I really should use those more! Great recipe!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 26, 2015 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you Stephanie, they really are easy to work with.

  • Reply
    Joy @ Joy Love Food
    March 26, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    This looks so good! I adore chili verde so this is my kind of dish, pinning to try.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 26, 2015 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you Joy, it’s quick and simple and so full of flavor.

  • Reply
    Brandy M
    March 27, 2015 at 8:07 am

    I have never thought about making pork meatballs! These look SO good! I am going add this to my list to try!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 27, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Honestly, neither had I. I have used pork in a mixture for meatballs, but never just on their own….so glad I did.

  • Reply
    Laura @MotherWouldKnow
    August 13, 2015 at 9:21 am

    I love meatballs that are made with something other than ground beef and I’ve been trying to learn how to use tomatillos. So this recipe is a natural for me. Can’t wait to try it.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      August 14, 2015 at 11:08 pm

      I hope you enjoy it. I love tomatillos, they are a fun (and sticky) product to work with.

  • Reply
    Brian T.
    December 18, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    4 stars
    It was wonderful. Just the right amount of spice. A new family favorite.

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