LITA'S ALBONDIGAS (MEATBALL SOUP)

Lita's Albondigas (Meatball Soup) image

My mother Lita (as the grandchildren call her) and I came up with this soup combining several recipes we tried until it was something we liked.

Provided by avinamarie

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beef Soup Recipes

Time 2h28m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
¼ pound tomatillos, husked and chopped
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup uncooked white rice
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds tomatoes, peeled
3 white onions, quartered
¾ pound tomatillos, husked and chopped
2 (7 ounce) cans chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 quarts chicken broth
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 lemons, cut into wedges
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas

Steps:

Mix ground beef, 1/4 pound tomatillos, eggs, white rice, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl.
Scoop 1 1/2 tablespoon of the beef mixture and roll into a meatball. Repeat with remaining beef mixture.
Combine tomatoes, 1 onion, 3/4 pound tomatillos, chipotle peppers, and 3 cloves garlic in a blender; puree until smooth.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add tomato puree; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth. Season broth with salt and pepper. Bring to a slow boil; reduce heat until broth is barely bubbling.
Lower meatballs carefully into the hot broth; simmer gently for 20 minutes. Add remaining 2 onions, carrots, celery, cilantro, and 1 teaspoon cumin. Simmer until rice in the meatballs is cooked through, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Squeeze some lemon juice into each bowl. Serve with corn tortillas.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.6 calories, Carbohydrate 51.7 g, Cholesterol 89.5 mg, Fat 13.8 g, Fiber 10.1 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 2084.8 mg, Sugar 10.6 g