Mexican Meatball Soup

I saw the rice-filled meatballs Mexican soup in one of the television show one day and tried it the following weekends while hubby was home. The soup is so yummy and hubby said it is pretty good. Albondigas or Mexican meatball soup is one of the most popular Mexican soup.

Ingredients:

Meatballs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2  chopped  onion
1/3 cup uncooked rice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon  minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon round black pepper

Soup

6 cups vegetable stock

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 serrano chile, whole
3/4 cup carrot, cubed
1 cup potato, cubed
1 zucchini, cubed

Directions:

1. In a heavy large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onions. Cook until translucent. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef,  rice, salt, black pepper, cilantro, sauteed onions and garlic,  salt and pepper. Using wet hands, shape the meat mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Set aside.

3. In a sauce pan, combine  vegetable stock and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Add in meatballs. Let it simmer for 20 minutes or until rice in meatballs is cooked through. Add all the vegetables. Simmer until all the vegetables are cooked. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

4. Serve hot topped with fresh chopped cilantro and flour tortillas.