Browsing Category

Soups & Stews

Soups & Stews, What's Cookin

Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup) Recipe

One of my favorite childhood foods was when my mom would make Albondigas soup a Mexican meatball soup and it has been about that long since I have had it. So today I decided as the weather got a little chilly and crisp here in NYC to make my moms Albondigas soup the Mexican meatball soup) recipe. Albondigas Soup

Here is the easy step-by-step recipe to follow.

Meatballs
** Keep in mind I just add enough spices as I want not exactly this measurement. Experiment & have fun!
1/2 lb lean ground beef or turkey ( I used turkey)
1 egg, beaten
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup of uncooked rice
1/2 cup cilantro leaf, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Oregano

Albondigas Soup

One large deep pot albondigas recipe
8 cups chicken broth(low sodium) or if you use Knorr use water and add Knorr to it until it taste right.
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with no salt added added)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup cilantro
1 large zucchini, sliced
2-3 Carrots peeled and sliced
pepper

Directions:

1. Make the meatballs first: Combine everything and mix thoroughly.

IMAG1105

2. Form meatballs and roll between your palms and set aside your meatballs (Otherwise, meatballs will fall apart in the soup).
Albondigas Soup Recipe

3. In a pot add olive oil and your diced onion and cook until brown

4. Combine water, chicken broth, onion, celery, tomatoes and their liquid, cumin, oregano and cilantro leaves in a large pot.

5. While you wait to bring the soup to a boil, prepare your veggies. I like using carrots and zucchini, but you can add potato and canned corn to it also. My dogs Buzz & Bella love it when I am slicing up carrots. They are just hoping one falls! So they always help when momma is cooking .

Albondigas Soup Recipe

Albondigas Soup Recipe

6. Bring to broil, and drop meatballs in the soup (Make sure the soup is slightly boiling, the meatballs need to be cooked quickly).

7. Return to boil and cook another 10 minutes the add your zucchini. You could add 1 cup of uncooked rice to it so it cooks together (Optional)

Albondigas Soup recipe

8. Return to boil and cook another 10 minutes the add your zucchini. You could add 1 cup of uncooked rice to it so it cooks together (Optional)

9.After 20-25 minutes of boiling your meatballs should be floating on the top of the soup and your veggies should be soft, but not mushy.

Lastly serve in a bowl and enjoy!

Albondigas Soup Recipe

Soups & Stews, What's Cookin

Vietnamese Butternut Squash Soup

The Vietnamese cuisine is a blend of European French influences and eastern Vietnamese flavors. Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil, and reliance on herbs and vegetables. With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to reach a fine taste, Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide. This recipe is one of my favorites and such a great soup to have on a cloudy rainy spring day or cold wintery evening! Make a lot of Vietnamese Butternut Squash Soup and enjoy it with friends! Vietnamese Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredient List

To serve 5-6 adults

3 Leg quarters or 5 chicken Breast ( depends if you want dark or white meat)
1 Whole Butternut Squash
1/2 cup or 1 whole cup of Granulated chicken broth or chicken powder
3-4 tablespoon Fish Sauce (You can substitute it for soy sauce if you do not have any)
4-5 tablespoon Minced Garlic
1/2 tablespoon Pepper
1/2 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1/2 tablespoon Onion Powder
3 swigs Lemon Juice
IMG_20130512_105353

Fish Sauce is an important ingredient in all Vietnamese recipes. You can buy it at a specialty store or order it online. A little of this sauce goes a long way!IMG_20130512_105426

To Garnish
Cilantro
Limes

Skin and clean your chicken and place in a pot of water to boil. Let boil. Once it is cooked, strain chicken and then chop it up into 1″ x 1″ cubes.

While the chicken is cooking, begin to prepare your Butternut Squash.
First Grab a potato peeler and peel the butternut.

Second, cut the butternut in half length wise and scoop out and clean the inside

Now begin to cut it into cubes about 2″ x 2″ big.
Vietnamese Butternut Squash Soup

In a new clean bigger pot fill with water to create you soup base.
Add all of the above mentioned ingredients including butternut squash.
Cover with a lid and let it boil.
Once it is boiled add the chicken cubes to the soup base.
Let it continue to boil for an additional 25-30 minutes.
Check your butternut squash at this time to make sure it is soft to the touch, but be careful and do not over cook where it crumbles. (Soft cubed mash potatoes is what you want)

Serve in a bowl with a 1 scoop of white rice (optional) garnish with cilantro and lime.
Vietnamese Butternut Squash Soup

If too bland… Add a little fish sauce and/or granulated chicken broth

The longer the soup soaks (age) the better the flavor the soup is…