Albondigas - Mexican Meatball Soup

Albondigas - Mexican Meatball Soup

Red or Green?
"Albondigas, or Caldo de Albondigas, is one of the most traditional and delicious Mexican soups. The word 'albondigas' means 'meatballs' in Spanish, and this hearty soup features delicious meatballs served in a flavorful beef broth along with plenty of wonderful vegetables. After a lot of trial and error, I’ve perfected this recipe, and I know you’re going to love it! Read on for the recipe."

Video

Course Soup
Cuisine Mexican, New Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Grass-Fed Ground Beef You can also use ground turkey, chicken, or a meat substitute
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder 
  • 1 Egg
  • ¾ tbsp Fresh Cilantro Chopped
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • ¼ tsp Black Pepper
  • ½ cup Instant Rice
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 6 cups Beef Broth
  • 2 Celery Stalks Cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 Yellow Onion Separated (½ finely diced, & ½ 1-inch dice)
  • 2 Potatoes Cut into large chunks
  • 2 Carrots Cut into large chunks
  • 1 Bell Pepper Any color cut into large chunks
  • 1 large Zucchini
  • 1 can Tomatoes Fire-roasted
  • ½ cup Salsa One of your favourites

Instructions
 

  • Combine ground beef, garlic & onion powder, egg, cilantro, salt, pepper, and rice in a large mixing bowl. 
  • Mix until all ingredients are just combined. 
  • Don’t overmix! 
  • Form one inch in diameter meatballs and set aside. 
  • In a large stockpot, heat olive oil on medium to high heat and add finely diced onion and cook until onions are translucent about 3 minutes. 
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant. 
  • At this point, you will add the salsa, onion, and celery and cook for another minute. 
  • Now add beef broth, tomatoes and bring them up to a boil, once it is boiling add the meatballs one by one. 
  • Allow the meatballs to cook for about ten minutes then add the carrots and potatoes and cook until they are just fork-tender, add the pepper, zucchini and cook for about five minutes. 

Notes

Nutritional Information

Albondigas mexican meatball soup offers a mix of nutrients from its ingredients. The meatballs and vegetables provide protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

Calorie and Protein Content

A serving of Albondigas mexican meatball soup typically has 300-400 calories. The exact amount depends on the recipe and serving size.
The meatballs are the main source of protein, with about 20-25 grams per serving. This is roughly 40-50% of the daily protein needs for most adults.
The soup also contains some carbs from the rice and vegetables, usually around 30-35 grams per serving.

Dietary Fiber and Fats

The vegetables in Albondigas mexican meatball soup provide dietary fiber. A typical serving has 3-5 grams of fiber. This helps with digestion and feeling full.
The soup has about 15-20 grams of fat per serving. Most of this comes from the meat. Adding avocado can increase the healthy fat content.
The broth is low in calories but high in flavor. It adds minerals like sodium to the soup’s nutrition profile.
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