Mama’s Old-Fashioned Albondigas (Meatball Soup)

Description

This is my number-one soup recipe, perfect for a cold rainy day, handed down to me by my mother. I hope you all enjoy it as much as my family has.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon water
  • 3 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 yellow onion, quartered
  • 4 tablespoons chicken bouillon (such as Knorr®)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 3 pounds lean ground beef
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup uncooked white rice
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt (such as Season-All®)
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 10 small baby potatoes
  • 5 large carrots, sliced diagonally
  • 5 stalks celery, sliced diagonally
  • 2 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 cups thickly shredded green cabbage
  • 1 lemon, sliced into wedges (Optional)
  • 2 avocados, chopped (Optional)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Pour water into a large stockpot over high heat. Stir in 3 cups tomato sauce
  2. yellow onion
  3. chicken bouillon
  4. garlic
  5. and 1 tablespoon dried oregano. Bring broth to a slow boil.
  6. Combine ground beef
  7. eggs
  8. 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  9. white rice
  10. 1/4 cup cilantro
  11. seasoned salt
  12. 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  13. onion powder
  14. garlic powder
  15. black pepper
  16. and cumin in a large bowl. Squeeze mixture with your hands until thoroughly mixed.
  17. Scoop 1/4 cup of beef mixture and form in a ball. Lower gently into boiling broth. Repeat with remaining beef mixture.
  18. Stir potatoes
  19. carrots
  20. and celery into the broth. Cover and simmer until meatballs and potatoes are tender
  21. about 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini and cabbage. Cover and simmer until cabbage is tender
  22. about 10 minutes.
  23. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice and garnish with avocado and 1/4 cup cilantro.

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins

Servings: 12

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