MEATBALL LENTIL SOUP

Meatball Lentil Soup image

I love albondiga (meatball) soup and came up with this recipe to include lentils. I just added the vegetables and broth I had on hand. I'm sure this could easily be made in a slow cooker, but I prefer the stovetop method to make my house smell wonderful! If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them! Serve with crusty bread and extra cilantro on top if preferred.

Provided by Cupcake Happy

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas Lentil Soup Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

3 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (14 ounce) can low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 serrano pepper, stemmed, or more to taste
2 tablespoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
1 cup lentils, rinsed and drained
½ onion, diced
½ pound ground beef
¼ cup uncooked white rice
¼ cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
3 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 potato, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped

Steps:

Combine water, tomatoes, chicken broth, cilantro, serrano pepper, garlic, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil. Add lentils and onion and return to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and let simmer, stirring after 10 minutes, about 25 minutes total.
While soup is simmering, mix ground beef, rice, bread crumbs, milk, garlic powder, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Mix to combine and form into small meatballs. Add to the pot, making sure they are covered with liquid, adding a small amount of water if necessary.
Bring to a boil, cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Stir gently; add potato and carrot and cover. Let simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 434.6 calories, Carbohydrate 60.4 g, Cholesterol 37.9 mg, Fat 8.4 g, Fiber 18 g, Protein 27.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 521.5 mg, Sugar 6.5 g