Tiny Spanish Meatballs in Almond Sauce

Here's another great little meatball recipe from Tapas. Posted for ZWT3

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• MEATBALLS

• 2  ounces  white bread or 2  ounces  brown bread, crusts removed
• 3  tablespoons water
• 1  lb  fresh  ground lean pork or 1  lb lean ground beef or 1  lb ground lamb
• 1  large onion, finely chopped
• 1  garlic clove, crushed
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh flat leaf parsley, plus extra to garnish
• 1  egg, beaten
•  freshly grated nutmeg
•  all-purpose flour, for coating
• 2  tablespoons Spanish olive oil
•  lemon juice, to taste
•  salt and pepper
•  crusty bread, to serve

• ALMOND SAUCE

• 2  tablespoons Spanish olive oil
• 1  ounce  white bread or 1  ounce  brown bread
• 4  ounces  blanched almonds
• 2  garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2⁄3 cup dry white wine
• 1 3⁄4 cups  vegetable stock
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. MEATBALLS:
2. Place bread in a bowl and add water. Let soak for 5 minutes. Using your hands, squeeze out the water and return the bread to the dried bowl. Add pork, onion, garlic, parsley and egg. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Knead the ingredients well to form a smooth mix.
3. Spread flour on a plate and with floured hands, shape the mixture into 30 balls, then roll each again in flour until coated.
4. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottom skillet. Add meatballs and cook for 4-5 minutes or until browned on all sides. Remove meatballs and reserve.
5. MAKE SAUCE:
6. Heat oil in same skillet in which the meatballs were fried. Break the bread into pieces, then add to the skillet with the almonds and cool gently until the bread and almonds are golden brown. Add the garlic and fry for an additional 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and boil for 1-2 minutes. Season to taste. Cool.
7. Transfer the almond mixture to a food processor. Pour in the vegetable stock and process the mixture until smooth. Return to skillet.
8. Add meatballs and simmer 25 minutes or until tender. Taste and season if necessary.
9. transfer all to serving dish. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley to garnish. Serve piping hot with crusty bread for mopping up the almond sauce.