Meatball Soup
A hearty meatball soup loaded with veggies, Italian herbs, and rich broth.
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons uncooked white rice
¼ cup grated carrot or zucchini
½ cup finely chopped onion, divided
1 ¼ cup finely chopped tomato, divided
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon chopped fresh oregano or ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon chopped fresh mint or ¼ teaspoon dried mint (optional)
8 ounces ground meat, 15% fat or less (beef, chicken, turkey or pork)
¼ cup plain bread crumbs (optional)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 cups low-sodium broth (any type)
1 or 2 sprigs fresh oregano or ½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
2 cups chopped vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned)
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- For meatballs: In a medium bowl, mix together the rice, carrot, ¼ cup onion, ¼ cup tomato, egg, salt, oregano and mint, if desired. Mix in ground meat. Add bread crumbs to help the mixture stick together, if desired.
- Using the palms of your hands or a scoop, roll the mixture into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Set the meatballs aside and wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw meat.
- In a large saucepan, heat oil on medium heat. Add ¼ cup onion and 1 cup tomato and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in broth, oregano and garlic powder, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
- Add meatballs to the broth. Cover and simmer until the internal temperature of a meatball reaches 165 degrees on a food thermometer, about 20 minutes.
- Add vegetables to the soup and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Top with a squeeze of lime juice and chopped cilantro.
- No breadcrumbs? Use 1 Tablespoon cornstarch instead.
Thanks to the OSU Extension Latin Heritage Workgroup for this recipe.
You might also like...
Stovetop Oatmeal
Stovetop Oatmeal
Quick and simple oatmeal recipe. The perfect staple to add your favorite toppings and seasonings.
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Rice Bowl Breakfast with Fruit and Nuts
Rice Bowl Breakfast with Fruit and Nuts
A great breakfast idea with filling grains, crunchy nuts, and your favorite fruit.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Hot Apple Orange Cider
Hot Apple Orange Cider
Warm and flavorful drink that comforting on a cold fall day and perfect for celebrating the holiday season.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
2 hours
Makes:
12 cups
Lentil Soup with Lime Juice
Lentil Soup with Lime Juice
Filling and tasty lentil soup with spicy green chiles, fresh veggies, and a pop of lime!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
60 minutes
Makes:
9 cups
Glass of Sunshine Flavored Water
Glass of Sunshine Flavored Water
Easy, homemade flavored water. So refreshing!
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
0
Makes:
8 cups
Kale and Cranberry Stir-Fry
Kale and Cranberry Stir-Fry
A sweet and savory recipe with a hint of fresh citrus. A great way to add dark leafy greens to your meals!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
5 cups
Comments
This is a simple and tasty recipe. I was happy to have both herbs growing in pots. We loved the mint in the meatballs. We used ground beef and beef broth.