How to Make Authentic Albondigas Soup

Ingredients:

_For the Albondigas (Meatballs):_

- 1 pound ground beef

- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

- 1/4 cup chopped onion

- 1/4 cup chopped parsley

- 1 egg

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

- 1 tablespoon cooking oil

_For the Soup:_

- 8 cups beef broth

- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

- 2 medium carrots, chopped

- 1/2 cup diced zucchini

- 1 (15 ounces) can of diced tomatoes with their juice

- 1/2 cup frozen peas

- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

- 1 teaspoon ground cumin

- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Make the Albondigas:

- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the ingredients are combined and well blended.

- Use your hands to form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs. Set them aside.

2. Cook the Albondigas:

- Heat the cooking oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

- Once the oil is hot, carefully add the meatballs to the pot. Brown them on all sides, but make sure not to overcook them.

- Once the meatballs are browned, remove them from the pot and set them aside.

3. Make the Soup:

- In the same pot, add the beef broth, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, diced tomatoes with their juice, peas, cilantro, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.

- Once the soup starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Allow the soup to simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

4. Add the Albondigas:

- After the soup has simmered for 15-20 minutes, carefully add the cooked albondigas back to the pot.

- Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer and let it cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the meatballs are heated through.

5. Serve:

- Once the soup is ready, ladle it into bowls and serve hot. Enjoy your authentic Albondigas Soup!

Tips:

- Serve the soup with additional chopped cilantro, lemon wedges, and cornbread or tortilla chips if desired.

- You can customize the vegetables used in the soup based on your preferences.

- For a richer flavor, you can use homemade beef broth instead of store-bought broth.