BOLLOS PELONES (VENEZUELAN MEATBALLS)
Level up your regular meatball night using this Bollos Pelones recipe or known as Venezuelan meatballs. These Latino beef dumplings are made with corn dough stuffed with well-seasoned ground meat filling and then coated or served with a tomato sauce!
Ingredients
FOR THE DOUGH:
- 1 ½ cup Water
- 2 ½ cups Corn Flour
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Butter
FOR THE FILLING:
- 2 Onions
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 cup Crushed tomatoes
- Pinch of sugar
- 2 cups Minced Veal
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Water for boiling
Instructions
- Pour the water into a bowl, and add the cornflour and salt. Stir until a homogeneous mass is formed.
- Once mixed, add the butter and knead it with your hands until thoroughly combined, and let it rest.
- Dice the onions into small pieces and crush the garlic. Fry the onions and garlic in a frying pan with a little olive oil until it is lightly caramelized.
- Add the crushed tomato and a pinch sugar to neutralize the acidity. Let the mixture cook for about 10 minutes over low heat.
- Place a frying pan over high heat and add a little olive oil. Season the minced veal with the oregano, salt, and black pepper, to taste. Sauté the minced meat until browned, about two minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Make small balls of corn flour dough. Using your finger, make a hole or depression in the center of the ball. Fill with a spoonful of the minced meat and seal the balls, fully enclosing the meat in the dough.
- Put a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add a large pinch of salt, followed by the filled dough balls. Cook until they rise to the surface, then turn off the heat. Let them rest in the water for 30 seconds, then drain in a colander.
- Serve the Bollos on a plate or platter and spread with the prepared tomato sauce. Now ¡Buen Provecho!
Notes
- This recipe can be enjoyed either alone as a starter, or as a main dish when accompanied by different side dishes such as rice, prepared ripe plantains (fried, baked, boiled, etc.), fresh salad, pico de gallo (tomato, onion, chopped cilantro), sliced avocado, etc.
- Feel free to use any ground meat like chicken, turkey, beef, and pork.
- Don't have oregano? Feel free to fresh thyme, marjoram, or simply go with Italian seasoning.
- You may swap crushed tomatoes with an equal amount of tomato puree. Or you may use freshly diced tomatoes, however, you'll need to cook it longer to break it down.
- Use the same amount of Harina P.A.N as called for in the recipe for corn flour.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 portionCalories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 14gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 323mgPotassium: 383mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 149IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!