Mexican Albondigas Soup (Meatball Soup)

This nutritious and soothing albondigas soup is inspired by Mexican cuisine.

Tender, delicious meatballs float in a tomato broth brimming with fresh herbs and vegetables. This soup comes together in just a few simple steps, making it ideal for a one-pot meal.

Why Is Albondigas Soup Recipe So Delicious?

• It’s the ideal supper for a cold evening! This hearty soup will keep you warm both inside and out. It won’t leave you feeling heavy down, either, because to the abundance of fresh herbs and veggies.
• It’s a complete and nutritious supper in one! This albondigas soup is full of healthy ingredients. The various vegetables provide plenty of nutrients, while the Mexican meatballs provide plenty of lean protein.
• It comes together quickly and easily! Before adding the remainder of the soup ingredients, simply sauté the aromatics. While those flavors develop, assemble your meatballs before tossing them in and cooking for just 20 minutes, untouched!

Important Ingredients

Stock (chicken or beef) – The base of this albondigas soup is the stock, which can be made with chicken or beef.

In this dish, I used chicken, which added just the right amount of delicious flavor. Beef stock, on the other hand, is a little more intense and would give an even deeper flavor that is just as delicious.

For this dish, I recommend using at least 80 percent lean ground beef. Even better if you can obtain 90 percent or more! You can also substitute ground turkey or chicken if you like.

White Rice – The meatballs in this soup are traditionally cooked with raw white rice. If you don’t want the added crunch, you can substitute cooked white rice.

Raw rice gives the meatballs a wonderful bite, which I prefer. It’s also worth noting that the rice will become somewhat cooked as the rest of the soup cooks.

Chef’s Advice

• Change up the vegetables in this soup as you see fit! You can use any fresh vegetables you have on hand or whatever is currently in season. This albondigas soup is a fantastic way to use up any leftover vegetables you may have.
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves may be added to the meatball mixture in some recipes. This is a totally optional ingredient that you can use in this recipe! Keep in mind that mint has a strong flavor that will show prominently in this recipe.
• Any leftover soup can be easily frozen! To do so, place the soup in an airtight container and freeze it for up to three months. Simply defrost the soup in the refrigerator before heating in a big saucepan over medium heat until well heated.

Mexican Albondigas Soup

This nutritious and soothing albondigas soup is inspired by Mexican cuisine.

Tender, delicious meatballs float in a tomato broth brimming with fresh herbs and vegetables. This soup comes together in just a few simple steps, making it ideal for a one-pot meal.

Ingredients

For the Soup

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 white onion chopped
• 1-quart chicken stock or beef stock
• 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 15-ounce can of crushed tomatoes undrained
• 1 cup white potatoes peeled and chopped into ½-inch pieces
• 3 carrots peeled and chopped

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground beef see Notes
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
• ¼ cup uncooked white rice see Notes
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

• Large pot
• Large bowl

Instructions For Albondigas Soup

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook until the onion and garlic are tender, about 8 minutes.
2. Combine the chicken or beef stock, tomato sauce, and crushed tomatoes in a mixing bowl. Bring the potatoes and carrots to a boil, then reduce to low heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all meatball ingredients until just mixed, being careful not to overmix. Make 1-inch meatballs out of the mixture.
4. One by one, drop meatballs into the simmering soup. Cover the saucepan with a lid and cook for 20 minutes, then garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

Notes

• Ground Beef: This dish can be made with ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
• For this dish, white rice does not need to be cooked ahead of time.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 503kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 1777mg, Potassium: 1605mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 8265IU, Vitamin C: 32mg, Calcium: 117mg, Iron: 6mg, Net Carbs: 41g