Albondigas Soup

Albondigas Soup is a traditional Mexican soup made with juicy, herb and rice infused meatballs (albondigas), and loaded with veggies: carrots, potatoes, celery, and chayote all simmered in a bold, aromatic tomato broth – and of course toppings! This Albondigas Soup recipe is hearty, warm, comforting and customizable with your favorite veggies. Albondigas Soup is make ahead friendly (tips and tricks included!) stores and reheats beautifully, is freezer friendly irresistibly delicious!

If you aren’t familiar with Albondigas Soup, I’m excited to make the introduction because this soup is epic – loaded with everything delicious and then some. It tastes fresh due to the aromatic broth and veggies yet comforting due to the potatoes and meatballs and just plain fabulous due to the layers of flavor and texture all over. Albondigas is the Spanish word for meatballs, so Albondigas Soup simply means Meatball Soup – but this isn’t just any meatball soup. This soup will make you want to face plant into the broth and not come up until every meatball disappears.

Ingredients:

SOUP

• 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked divided
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 small yellow onion chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper minced
• 2 medium carrots sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 2 stalks celery sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 2 small Yukon gold potatoes chopped into 1-inch chunks
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tsp EACH dried oregano, ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, salt, pepper
• 2 15 oz. cans fire roasted tomatoes with juices
• 1 4 oz. can mild diced green chiles
• 8 cups low sodium beef broth
• 1 chayote, peeled, cored chopped into 1/2” cubes (may sub ½ zucchini)

MEATBALLS

• 8 oz. lean ground beef
• 8 oz. ground pork may sub lean ground beef
• rice from above in directions
• 1/2 small yellow onion minced
• 1 large egg
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano OR ½ teaspoon dried
• 1/2 tsp EACH chili powder, ground cumin, salt, pepper

TOPPINGS (PICK YOUR FAVS!)

• Avocados
• Tomatoes
• cilantro
• sour cream
• lime juice
• hot sauce