Description
Albondigas Soup is a comforting Mexican meatball soup featuring tender beef and rice meatballs simmered in a flavorful broth with vegetables and spices. This hearty and warming soup is perfect for family meals, combining wholesome ingredients like fresh cilantro, carrots, celery, and potatoes with a mild blend of oregano, cumin, and chili powder for an authentic taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 small potato, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped cilantro, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the meat. Then, shape the mixture into small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat the broth and vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken broth and diced tomatoes, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, add sliced carrots, celery, diced potato, dried oregano, ground cumin, and chili powder.
- Add the meatballs to simmer: Carefully drop the meatballs into the simmering broth and vegetable mixture. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes. This allows the rice inside the meatballs to cook thoroughly and the vegetables to become tender.
- Finish cooking and season: If using, stir in the frozen peas and cook for an additional 5 minutes to heat through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed before serving warm.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner meat option.
- Add extra vegetables such as zucchini or corn for added nutrition and flavor.
- For enhanced flavor, garnish the finished soup with fresh cilantro leaves and a squeeze of lime juice.
