A hearty meatball soup loaded with veggies, Italian herbs and flavorful broth.
Meatball Soup
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.
- Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- 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...
Southern Okra Bean Stew
Southern Okra Bean Stew
A combination of hearty whole grains, creamy beans and tasty veggies make a satisfying and delicious stew.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
14 cups
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Carrot Ginger Salad
Carrot Ginger Salad
This flavorful, sweet and savory side dish is great for make-ahead meals!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Cilantro Lime Tuna Wrap
Cilantro Lime Tuna Wrap
A light and flavorful meal using canned tuna, fresh veggies and a tangy mayo dressing.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
5 Wraps
Salsa Verde
Salsa Verde
This delicious green salsa uses tomatillos and green peppers to make a sauce that can be used with a variety of dishes.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups
Chicken Creole
Chicken Creole
Quick and easy recipe that is full of flavor and ready in under an hour.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
10 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.