Tomato Meatball Soup
Total time: 50 minutes
This is a quick soup (as soups go). Use any small pasta: orzo, small elbow, vermicelli; or break spaghetti into 3" (7cm) lengths. Add more chili powder or hot sauce if you like. Best of all it has meatballs... We love meatballs. This serves 4 - 5... or 2 meals for two with, maybe a lunch leftover. It freezes well, too.
Ingredients:
- 16oz ground beef (480gr mince)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups (32oz, 960ml) beef stock
- 2 cups (16oz, 480ml) tomato juice
- 1 3/4 cups (15oz (450gr) whole tomatoes
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tbs basil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 onion
- 3 carrots
- 3 ribs celery
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup vermicelli or other small pasta optional - if you like thick soup add it
Instructions:
- In large Dutch Oven (soup kettle) heat the beef stock and tomato juice over medium-high heat.
- Mix egg, breadcrumbs, oregano, basil and Worcestershire.
- Add ground beef and mix well.
- Form into small meatballs, 1" (2.5cm) in diameter.
- When stock/juice is boiling slowly add meatballs, keeping them separate until they start to cook.
- Cut carrots in half the long way then slice into thin half-circles.
- Slice celery.
- Chop onion.
- Shred cabbage: cutting a thick slice off of the side of the head, lay the slice cut side down and cut into 4ths, then, cutting across, slice 1/8" (.6cm) thick. Do not use the core of the cabbage - you'll recognize it when you see, it appears solid. (Save the rest of the head and any shredded cabbage, wrapped in film in the fridge.)
- Chop the tomatoes, reserving the liquid.
- When soup is boiling again (after addition of meatballs) you can start adding the rest of the ingredients as they are ready.
- Add all remaining ingredients, except pasta but including reserved tomato juice stir well, cover and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes until all vegetables are done.
- If using pasta, add after 15 minutes, and stir every 5 minutes until done.
- Remove bay leaves and serve.