Albondigas – Mexican Meatball Soup

This is a light, healthy and easy soup! It can be made with brown rice or made grain-free with chopped pine nuts instead. The flavor is bright and vibrant.  I created this recipe because I had ordered Albondigas at Mexican restaurant, really enjoyed it, but wanted to “healthify” it and brighten the flavors more to my tastes. It only takes a few minutes to get this recipe ready for some simmering on the stove. Enjoy!

Albondigas – Mexican Meatball Soup

Makes 6 generous servings

3 quarts homemade chicken broth, or high quality, organic, natural low-sodium store bought variety

4 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 pinches Kosher or sea salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons cumin powder

2 teaspoons dried oregano

4 dashes Mexican hot pepper sauce, or to taste

1 lemon (zest it first, set aside)

1 pound organic lean ground beef, turkey or bison

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup brown rice, uncooked – or finely chopped pine nuts chopped in food processor

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 pinch Kosher or Sea salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

lemon zest, from the lemon you squeezed

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Place the broth, carrot, onion, celery, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1-2 pinches salt, pepper, 2 tsp cumin, oregano, hot pepper sauce and juice from the lemon in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil while you prepare your meatball mixture (reduce to a simmer once it boils).

In a large mixing bowl add your meat, egg, rice (or pine nuts), spinach, 2 cloves minced garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and the zest from the lemon. Mix the meat mixture with a fork to start, keeping your mixing light, taking care not to compact the meat. Once the ingredients look evenly mixed start forming the meatballs. Make small, about 1 inch in diameter meatballs, dropping them into the simmering broth as you make them. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add the chopped fresh cilantro once you turn off the heat, let rest for 5 minutes then serve. Enjoy!

Cheers, may your day be delicious! 

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