What you’ll need:
1 medium red onion (6-8 oz)
¼ oz fresh cilantro
2 chipotles in adobo (1 oz)
7 white corn tortillas (0.76 oz ea)
1 Tbsp ground cumin (0.2 oz)
12 oz ground beef
1 Tbsp tomato paste (0.5 oz)
1 lime
12 oz green cabbage
coarse salt
1 large egg
olive oil
freshly ground black pepper
Equipment: box grater
large skillet
Recipe steps:
- Prep ingredients
Preheat oven to 200°F. Halve and peel onion. Cut half into thin slivers. Grate the other half on coarse holes of a box grater. Pick cilantro leaves from stems and finely chop stems. Finely chop chipotle (1½ tablespoons). Very finely chop 1 tortilla. Wrap remaining tortillas in foil and transfer to oven to warm.
- Make meatballs
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ½ of the grated onion, chopped cilantro stems, chopped tortilla, ½ of the cumin, 2 teaspoons chipotle (or less if desired), and 1 large egg. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. Using moistened hands, roll into twelve 1½-inch balls.
- Cook meatballs
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add meatballs and cook, turning once or twice, until browned but not cooked through, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate. Pour off fat from skillet and reduce heat to medium.
- Make sauce
Add remaining grated onion and cumin and cook, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and remaining chipotle (or less if desired) and cook, 30 seconds. Add 1 cup water and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper, scraping up browned bits. Add meatballs and simmer, covered, 8–10 minutes. Uncover and cook until sauce thickens, 2–3 minutes.
- Make slaw
Meanwhile, juice lime. Halve, core, and very thinly slice cabbage. Transfer to a large bowl and add sliced onion, half of the cilantro leaves, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons oil. Season with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Using your hands, gently squeeze 3 or 4 times to slightly wilt cabbage.
- Serve
Unwrap tortillas and fill with meatballs and cabbage slaw. Drizzle sauce on top and garnish with remaining cilantro. Serve any remaining slaw on the side. Enjoy!
