Albóndigas en Mole Poblano (Meatballs in Mole)
Tender pork and beef meatballs poached in dark, fruity mole, served over fluffy Mexican red rice.
Made with Mole poblano and Mexican red rice (arroz rojo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.36 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the pork, beef, masa harina, egg, garlic, oregano and 1 tsp salt in a bowl with your hands until sticky. Roll into 20 walnut sized balls.
- 2
Warm the mole poblano (see the base recipe) with the water in a wide pan over a medium heat, stirring until smooth and bubbling gently.
5 min - 3
Lower the meatballs into the sauce one at a time. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes, turning once, until firm and cooked through with no pink inside.
20 min - 4
Meanwhile, reheat the arroz rojo (see the base recipe) in a covered pan with a splash of water until steaming hot.
- 5
Toast the sesame seeds for 1 minute. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the rice with sesame seeds on top.
Tips
- Wet your hands to roll. The mixture is sticky and wet hands stop it sticking.
- Simmer gently. A rolling boil breaks the meatballs apart.
- Test one: cut it open to check it is cooked through with no pink inside.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Reheat rice only once.
Questions
Can I use turkey mince?
Yes, but add 1 tbsp oil to the mix as turkey is lean and can dry out. Cook for the same time until firm and cooked through.
Can I make them egg free?
Yes. Leave out the egg and add 2 tbsp of water to the masa harina so the mixture still holds together. Chill the balls for 15 minutes before cooking.
More made with mole poblano
Gorditas de Pollo con Mole (Stuffed Corn Cakes with Mole Chicken)
GFEFNFChilaquiles de Mole con Huevo (Mole Chilaquiles with Fried Egg)
GFNFVTacos de Hongos con Mole (Mushroom Mole Tacos)
DFEFNFBurritos de Pollo con Mole y Arroz (Chicken Mole Burritos)
EFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.