Description
Albondigas Soup is a traditional Mexican meatball soup that is hearty, flavorful, and comforting. The meatballs are made with a blend of ground beef, cooked rice, and aromatic spices, cooked in a savory broth with vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Mexican Meatballs
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- ½ cup (100g) cooked white rice
- 2 teaspoons (10g) minced garlic
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (4g) chopped cilantro or parsley
- ¼ cup (24g) minced onions
- 1 teaspoon (3g) ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon (6g) salt
- ½–1 teaspoon (1-2g) black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (2g) ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon (2g) paprika
The Soup
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon (9-10g) minced garlic
- 1 large stalk celery, sliced
- 2–3 carrots, peeled, quartered, and sliced
- 1 large zucchini, quartered and sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6–7 cups (1.5-2l) beef broth or water
- 3 tablespoons (45g) tomato paste or an 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon (3g) ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon (1-2g) dried oregano
- ½ tablespoon (1g) chicken bouillon
- ½ tablespoon (3.5g) smoked paprika
- 1½ cups (183g) potatoes, cut into ½-inch pieces
- ¼ cup (4g) fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Make the Mexican Meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground beef, cooked rice, minced garlic, egg, cilantro or parsley, minced onions, cumin, salt, black pepper, oregano, and paprika. Mix well and form into small meatballs.
- Prepare the Soup: In a large pot, heat olive oil and sauté onions and garlic until fragrant. Add celery, carrots, zucchini, salt, and pepper. Pour in beef broth or water, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chicken bouillon, and smoked paprika. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the Meatballs: Gently drop the meatballs into the simmering soup. Add potatoes and cook until the meatballs are cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
- Finish the Soup: Stir in fresh cilantro and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can customize the vegetables in the soup based on your preference.
- Feel free to add more herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of the soup.
- This soup is even better the next day as the flavors have time to meld together.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg