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Hearty Meatball & Vegetable Soup: Your Ultimate Comfort Bowl

Hearty Meatball & Vegetable Soup recipe: cozy, nutritious, and full of flavor for family-friendly meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Meatballs
  • 500 gground meat ( chicken, turkey, or beef)
  • ½ cupuncooked short-grain rice
  • 1small yellow onion, very finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoonsfresh parsley, minced
  • 1egg
  • ½ teaspoondried savory (or thyme)
  • ½ teaspoonsalt
  • ¼ teaspoonblack pepper
  • Soup Base
  • 2 tablespoonsvegetable oil
  • 1yellow onion, diced
  • ½leek, chopped finely
  • 3carrots, grated or diced small
  • ½ cupchopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoonspaprika (sweet or smoked)
  • 2 tablespoonsdried summer savory
  • 1 tablespoontomato paste
  • 1bouillon cube (chicken or vegetable)
  • 1 teaspoonsalt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoonground black pepper
  • 2–3potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3liters water
  • Finishing Touches
  • ¼ teaspooncitric acid or2–3tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoonsfinely chopped lovage
  • 2 tablespoonsfresh dill, chopped
  • 2 tablespoonsparsley, chopped
  • 3–4tablespoons sour cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Shape the Meatballs
  2. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat, rice, finely diced onion, parsley, egg, salt, savory, and pepper.
  3. Stir until well combined, then roll the mixture into small, bite-sized balls. Set aside on a plate while you prepare the soup.
  4. Sauté the Base Aromatics
  5. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and chopped leek.
  6. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture turns soft and fragrant.
  7. Add Vegetables and Seasoning
  8. Stir in the grated carrots, half of the chopped parsley, paprika, dried savory, and tomato paste.
  9. Mix to coat the vegetables with the seasonings and cook for another 2 minutes.
  10. Build the Broth
  11. Pour in about 3 liters of water, then add the bouillon cube, salt, and pepper.
  12. Bring the soup to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 30 minutes so the flavors blend.
  13. Add Meatballs to the Soup
  14. Carefully drop the prepared meatballs into the simmering broth.
  15. Lower the heat and let them cook slowly for about 10 minutes, until they rise to the surface.
  16. Incorporate the Potatoes
  17. Add the cubed potatoes to the soup and simmer for an additional 10–12 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the broth has slightly thickened.
  18. Finish with Herbs and Acidity
  19. Once the soup is ready, remove it from the heat and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
  20. Stir in lemon juice (or citric acid) and the remaining fresh herbs — lovage, dill, and parsley.
  21. Serve and Enjoy
  22. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  23. Serve hot, with a spoonful of sour cream either mixed in or served on the side.
  • Author: Chef mia