Albóndigas en Pipián Verde (Meatballs in Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
Tender rice and mint meatballs simmered in Mexican chicken stock and green pumpkin seed sauce.
Made with Green mole (pipian verde) and Mexican chicken stock (caldo de pollo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.25 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 mince, cooked rice, egg, garlic, mint and salt in a bowl with your hands until just combined. Roll into 20 small balls.
- 2
Heat the oil in a wide pan and brown the meatballs for 5 minutes, turning, then lift out.
5 min - 3
Pour your ready made Mexican chicken stock, caldo de pollo (see the base recipe) into the pan and bring to a simmer, scraping the base.
- 4
Stir in your ready made green mole, pipian verde (see the base recipe) and add the meatballs. Cover and simmer very gently for 20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and no pink remains, at least 75C.
20 min - 5
Serve in shallow bowls with the sauce spooned over, with rice or tortillas.
Tips
- Keep the meatballs small so they cook quickly in the sauce.
- Do not overwork the mince, which makes meatballs tough.
- Simmer gently so the sauce stays smooth.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge. Cool within 2 hours, reheat until steaming hot all through. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Questions
Can I use pork or chicken mince?
Yes, a mix of pork and beef is traditional. Chicken mince works but needs less cooking time.
Can I leave out the egg?
Yes, the rice binds well enough. Chill the mixture for 20 minutes before rolling.
Is this like albondigas soup?
Similar, but this version is thicker and nuttier, with the green pumpkin seed sauce rather than a clear tomato broth.
More made with green mole (pipian verde)
Pescado en Pipián Verde con Pico de Gallo (Fish in Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
GFDFEFHuevos en Pipián Verde (Poached Eggs in Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
DFNFVVerduras en Pipián Verde (Vegetable Stew in Green Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
GFDFEFPollo Asado con Pipián Verde (Grilled Chicken with Green Pipian)
DFEFNFDouble 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.