Albondigas soup is a traditional Mexican meatball soup. Despite the fact that I grew up in New Mexico, I had never tasted it before making this recipe. My friend Kelly sent me her recipe for this soup earlier this year and I was excited to finally have a chance to try it last night. The whole family enjoyed it for dinner and my kids went nuts over the fact it was a soup filled with meatballs! (Never fear, little ones, I’ll be adding plenty of vegetables next time I make it!)
The recipe is quite versatile, add as many vegetables as you like or leave them out entirely. I adapted it slightly, according to our tastes, but what makes Albondigas memorable is the tiny bit of mint added to the meatballs and the broth. Having finally tasted it myself, I understand why this is the recipe that I receive so many requests for every fall. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to try it!
- 1 teaspoon light olive oil
- 1 very large yellow onion chopped small, about 2 cups
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 3 quarts beef broth or 3 quarts water plus 5 tablespoons beef base
- 2 14 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder this is just enough to provide flavor with very little heat
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup uncooked rice
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Additional salt to taste, I used an additional teaspoon or so
- Optional: diced vegetables of your choosing carrots, peas, corn, green beans, summer squash
- Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onions and saute over medium high heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking until the onions are lightly browned. Add the broth, tomato sauce, chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon mint and bring to a boil.
- Combine the beef, pork, rice, eggs, remaining mint, salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix it together gently, but thoroughly. Use a teaspoon or a small scoop to make 60-80 small meatballs. Scoop a small amount, roll it into a ball and carefully drop it into the soup pot. Stir very gently after every few meatballs, just to make sure none of them are sitting on the bottom. (Once they start to cook, the meatballs will float on the top.)
- After all the meatballs have been added, simmer an additional 30 minutes. (If you are adding vegetables, add them at this time.) When the soup is almost ready, taste the broth and adjust the seasonings to taste. Depending on the broth you use, you might need to add as much as 2 teaspoons additional salt. Enjoy!
- FREEZER TIP: Let the soup cool completely before transferring to freezer
- safe containers. Soup can be heated in the microwave or it can be thawed first
- and then reheated on the stove-top.
Joshua Hampton (Cooking Classes San Diego) says
I was just looking for new soup recipes to add to my fall meal planning. This beautiful albondigas recipe of yours just does it for me. Thanks.
Sue/the view from great island says
I've wanted to make this for ages, yours looks really really good. And of course, we both know everything is better with meatballs 🙂
Mary Callan says
What a fabulous hearty soup –
Mary x
Big Dude says
"…my kids went nuts over the fact it was a soup filled with meatballs!" – I'm with the kids
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Yup, my kids love this. A soup with meatballs=genius!
Tully S Coffee says
Meatballs on a spicy mushroom soup will definitely makes your cold and rainy days so fine.
Chris says
I have this on my try soon list but I still haven't gotten around to trying it.
Deborah says
I should have known when you mentioned that you love green chile that you are from New Mexico!! I grew up in New Mexico as well!! I must make this soup asap – it is calling to me!
marina hernandez says
I just come from a trip to Italy, and my husband love SOPA RUSTICA, that he tasted there..so i was looking recipes of soups and i find your blog from lauren blog, and i was so happy to find that you have the real mexican recipes for albondigas, im from tijuana, mexico, and your recipe is the same my mom made that she learned from her mom in guadalajara mexico (the only diferent she dont use the chile power)..sometimes i added onion ,tomatoes and zuchinni to the broth)..i will recomend to visit the blog of LA COCINA MEXICANA DE PILY, she is a very nice person and all shes recipes are autentic mexican recipes she lived in guadalajara.
i will tried today the taquitos recipe.