Puerto Rican FoodPork and Calabaza Meatballs in Ají Dulce Sauce with Creamy Coconut Rice and Pink Beans
An original Puerto Rican recipe featuring juicy pork meatballs seasoned with grated calabaza squash, sofrito, and oregano, simmered in a mild ají dulce and tomato sauce. They are served over creamy coconut rice with pink beans for a comforting, flavorful, distinctly Puerto Rican dish.
Ingredients
- 500 g ground pork (for the meatballs)
- 120 g grated calabaza squash (exprimir lightly si está muy húmeda)
- 90 g Puerto Rican sofrito (divided)
- 40 g breadcrumbs (for ligar the meatballs)
- 1 unit egg (beaten)
- 12 g garlic (chopped, divided)
- 2 g dried oregano
- 1 g ground cumin
- 8 g salt (divided, or to taste)
- 1 g black pepper (divided)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 90 g ají dulce peppers (without semillas and chopped)
- 120 g white onion (chopped, divided)
- 240 ml tomato sauce
- 360 ml chicken broth (divided)
- 1 unit bay leaf
- 200 g medium-grain rice (enjuagado)
- 240 ml coconut milk
- 260 g cooked pink beans (escurridas si vienen enlatadas)
- 8 g culantro leaves (chopped)
- 40 g green olives (slices)
- 15 ml lime juice (for terminar)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, grated calabaza squash, 2 tablespoons of Puerto Rican sofrito, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, half of the chopped garlic, dried oregano, ground cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until well mixed.
- 2
2. Shape the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs and place them on a tray. For a firmer texture, chill them for 10 minutes while you prepare the rest.
- 3
3. Heat a large skillet or caldero over medium heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Brown the meatballs for 6 to 8 minutes, turning to sear several sides. They do not need to be fully cooked yet. Transfer them to a plate.
- 4
4. In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the ají dulce peppers, half of the white onion, and the remaining garlic for 3 minutes. Add the remaining Puerto Rican sofrito and cook 1 minute more.
- 5
5. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1 cup of the chicken broth, the bay leaf, the remaining salt, and the remaining black pepper. Cook until the sauce reaches a gentle simmer.
- 6
6. Return the meatballs to the sauce, partially cover, and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked and the center reaches 160°F/71°C.
- 7
7. Meanwhile, in a medium pot over medium heat, cook the remaining white onion with a splash of the pink bean liquid or 1 tablespoon water for 2 minutes.
- 8
8. Add the medium-grain rice and stir for 1 minute. Pour in the coconut milk, the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, and the cooked pink beans. When it comes to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and cook for 18 to 20 minutes until the rice is tender.
- 9
9. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Then add the culantro leaves, green olives, and lime juice. Fluff gently with a fork.
- 10
10. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Serve a bed of creamy coconut rice with pink beans, top with the pork and calabaza meatballs, and spoon the ají dulce sauce over everything.
Chef tips
For deeper flavor, brown the meatballs well before simmering them. If the sauce thickens too much, add a little more chicken broth. The grated calabaza helps keep the meatballs juicy without making them heavy.
Substitutions
You can substitute the pork with ground turkey, though the flavor will be milder. If calabaza squash is unavailable, use butternut squash. Pink beans can be replaced with cooked red beans. For a dairy-free version, this recipe is already dairy-free.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ratings & reviews
Sign in to rate this recipe
Sign inRelated recipes
Creamy Puerto Rican rabbit rice with roasted squash, sweet peppers, and crispy cassava flatbread
90 min
Puerto Rican Sweet Plantain Lasagna with Sofrito Chicken, Spinach, and Queso del País
75 min
Braised chicken caldero with green bananas, olives, and toasted recao rice
75 min
Yuca Dumplings Stuffed with Crab in a Mild Coconut and Culantro Sauce
75 min
Puerto Rican Sweet Potato and Beef Pastelón with Queso del País, Sweet Pepper Sofrito and Crispy Cassava Bread Crumble
85 min
Crab-Stuffed Bacalaito Fritters with Roasted Garlic Aioli and Warm Corn Salad
65 min