These White Bean Meatballs in Onion Sauce are packed with flavors, made with simple everyday ingredients and all done in a little over 30 minutes. Serve them next to some roasted potatoes and a bottle of Spanish white wine for a delicious and fulfilling meal.
To make this dish, I used canned white beans. Just to make things easier and quicker. Of course, you can also use dried white beans. Just soak them in plenty of water overnight and then simmer the following day for 1 to 2 hours or until tender.
For the onion sauce, I used homemade vegetable broth. But you can also use chicken broth or even beef broth. I also added a little white wine, to give the sauce a deeper depth of flavor. If wine is not your thing, you can sub for 1/2 the amount of vinegar or even a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The secret to this recipe is to ensure the white bean mixture is well-binded. That way the meatballs don´t fall apart. Once you have the mixture ready, make sure to squeeze the mixture in your hands before shaping the meatballs. If you see it´s too dry, add some water or a little whisked egg until the desired texture.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon ONAFORK)
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make these White Bean “Meatballs” in Onion Sauce
White Bean "Meatballs" in Onion Sauce
Ingredients
FOR THE WHITE BEAN MEATBALLS
- 15.5 oz can white beans 440 grams
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs 45 grams
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 8 grams
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1.5 grams
- sea salt & black pepper
FOR THE ONION SAUCE
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour 8 grams
- 1/2 cup dry white wine 120 ml
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme .50 grams
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth 360 ml
- sea salt & black pepper
EXTRAS
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- handful chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
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Drain the can of white beans into a colander and rinse under water, then shake off any excess water and transfer into a large bowl, using a potato masher or a large fork, mash down on the white beans until well mashed
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Once the white beans are mashed, add in the bread crumbs, crack in the egg, add in the chopped onion, chopped garlic, chopped parsley, ground cumin and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together until well mixed, then push down on the mixture to end up with a paste-like texture
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To shape the meatballs, grab a spoonful of the mixture and squeeze it in your hands, this is to ensure the ingredients are well binded together, the form it into a shape of a golf ball
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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After a couple of minutes add in the white bean meatballs, all in a single layer, cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden fried all around, then remove from the pan and set aside
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Using the same pan with the same heat, add in the chopped onion and garlic, mix continuously, after 3 to 4 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in the flour, continue to mix together, after 2 minutes add in the wine, dried thyme and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together and then simmer
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After 3 minutes and the alcohol has cooked off, add in the vegetable broth, continue to mix and go for 3 to 4 minutes or until you end up with a slightly creamy sauce, then add the white bean meatballs back into the pan, all in a single layer, heat them through for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from the heat
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Transfer the white bean meatballs into serving dishes, top off with the onion sauce and some chopped fresh parsley, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Spanish Olive Oil I used to make this Recipe (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon ONAFORK)
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Elaine
We’re trying to cut down on oils and frying. Could we spray the meatballs with olive oil and cook in our convection oven? And is that true for most of your other bean-based meatballs (also making your chickpea recipe this weekend). Assuming they won’t be as crispy but will still be tasty. Love your recipes, thank you!
19 . Apr . 2024Spain on a Fork
Yes absolutely! About 15 to 20 minutes should do the trick 🙂 Much love!
20 . Apr . 2024Pearl T.
Can I make this with black beans?
03 . Apr . 2024Spain on a Fork
Absolutely!! Much love 🙂
03 . Apr . 2024M.K.
05 . Mar . 2024Easy to follow recipe with simple ingredients. My beanballs turned out nice and round, and held up to the sauce. I did add in an extra tablespoon of bread crumbs when the mixture seemed a little too wet. I will make this again. I think I’ll add in a touch of lemon to the sauce and a tad less onion, but these are adjustments just to fit my tastes. Thanks for the lovely recipe 🙂
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
05 . Mar . 2024Susan
26 . Feb . 2024I made it but the meatballs collapsed. They looked more like vegan crab cakes. BUT they tasted great. The onion sauce really makes this dish. It would also be good over chicken or fish.
Spain on a Fork
Next time try adding in more whisked egg or whatever you used to bind the ingredients 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it! Much love
28 . Feb . 2024Variableman
25 . Feb . 2024This makes a fantastic mid-week meal but we would make this anytime. Wonderful flavor! We replaced the parsley with cilantro and it really brought some Moroccan flavor to the meal. Can’t recommend this one enough. Well done!
Spain on a Fork
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
28 . Feb . 2024Diane
23 . Feb . 2024I made the white bean meatballs. Served them with roasted veggies. Super delicious. I will make them again for sure. Thanks!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
24 . Feb . 2024Jason
These had a great taste.
My balls loss their shape while frying and came out more like patties. I didn’t dare return them to sauce for fear they would disintegrate into it. I kept them warm in the oven while I made the sauce separate and poured over them which worked out just fine.
Served with oven roasted “papas bravas.”
Great meal!
Love the channel!
11 . Feb . 2024Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Next time just add in some whisked egg to the mixture, that will ensure they don’t fall apart 🙂 Much love
13 . Feb . 2024Kathy
03 . Feb . 2024I just made these they are pretty good and I’m a meat and vegetable person. My sauce did not come out looking a pretty yellow but tasted great together.
Spain on a Fork
That color came from the vegetable broth, glad you liked it! Much love 🙂
05 . Feb . 2024Melissa Grylicki
02 . Feb . 2024Made these last night with a salad. Was really good. My only adds were a few saffron threads and fresh parsley to the sauce – not just for the garnish. I love your recipes! Thank you for making my home smell really good!
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
03 . Feb . 2024Glenn Bulycz
These were awesome! I doubled the recipe and they are almost all gone in one night! Great recipe and a wonderful way to add more good proteins to a veggie diet!
Thanks Alberto – these recipes are diamonds!
31 . Jan . 2024Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
01 . Feb . 2024Ramya
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i skip wine as i don’t use alcohol at home i never had white bean meatballs in onion sauce before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
30 . Jan . 2024laurelie campeau
29 . Jan . 2024This looks very interesting but I am wondering about what else you could serve it with…i.e. spaghetti, rice, mashed potatoes?
Spain on a Fork
In anyway you would serve regular meatballs, I prefer them next to some roasted potatoes, but the options are limit-less! Much love 🙂
30 . Jan . 2024Ms. Jimi
Hi,
29 . Jan . 2024As a Military Brat, I spent six years in Spain. I’d like to see some seafood soups, thin cut grilled lamb. Saw the Patatas Bravas recipe, yum!
My I recommend a cloth napkin after your taste testing.
Kind regards
Spain on a Fork
Thanks for the feedback! Much love 🙂
30 . Jan . 2024