Albóndigas with Olives

Albóndigas with Olives in tomato sauce is a classic Spanish meatball dish with a twist that olive lovers will love. Perfect for tapas, as an appetizer, or a hearty meal on its own, you will love this easy albóndigas recipe! This post is brought to you by Have an Olive Day featuring olives from Spain.

I think there might be a cloud following me. From the moment I stepped out of Newark Airport and drove into the city, I looked out the rain-streaked car windows as the shiny roads whizzed by. A touch of rain and a blast of cold air followed me through the revolving doors into my hotel, and as I settled into my cozy room, I closed the blinds on the dreary rooftops of the New York skyline.

I haven’t had too much luck with the weather these last couple of times I’ve been back to New York. Last month, there was that arctic chill that made me coax my dad to reconsider moving out west to warmer weather. This time, it was rain, along with the cold. Wet umbrellas, dark raincoats, and the craving for cozy foods seemed to set the tone for the whole weekend.

But I really didn’t mind so much, since I was back for the IACP conference, where I had to be indoors anyways, for the most part. And if I wasn’t indoors, I was below ground in the subway, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise, because if the weather was better, I would be tempted to sneak away! It was a very full weekend, full of bagel making (you may have seen on Instagram stories!) and workshops and sessions, and lots of networking. I managed to see old friends, as well as my brother and adorable nephew. The rain didn’t hamper one bit.

When I returned to the Bay Area, the rain followed, and back in my kitchen, so did the craving for more comfort food. Meatballs sounded like a good idea, albondigas, to be specific. I was making an olive inspired dish for the Have an Olive Day campaign using Spanish olives, and I knew I wanted to infuse each bite of meatball with bright, briny Manzanilla olives stuffed with pimiento. The pimiento is not to be ignored here, as it adds extra flavor, and as the rain fell, I rolled and rolled, while the sauce bubbled away on the stove.

It was the first home cooked meal I had made in days, and with each tear of doughy bread, wiping up the tomato sauce with a bite of tender pork and turkey meatballs, I could taste the olives shining through. It’s like that bright taste of lemon when you sip your tea, or the smear of jam on a scone with clotted cream. It’s the spicy bite of kimchee with bibimpap, or the fresh herbs in a steaming bowl of pho.

It’s the brightness amid the comfort, and the cozy that you crave. And the perfect way to say welcome home.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Have an Olive Day. Thank you for supporting brands that matter to me; sponsored posts such as this help behind the scenes at Kitchen Confidante. All opinions in this post are, as always, my own.