Who knew the words “healthy” and “meatballs” would be in the same sentence? Well, this healthy meatball soup recipe is just that. It's delicious, nutritious, and packed with veggies. But don't worry, your kids will hardly notice that the yummy meatball soup their mom made is also good for them, too!
While we admit that at first glance this recipe does seem a tad involved, the result is a tasty amalgamation of flavorful seasonings, vegetables, and protein. So, you can be sure it will fill you up! Serve with a salad and a side of crusty bread, and you have a complete meal. Dig in!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb. ground chicken
- 1/2 lb. ground lean beef
- 10 cups water
- 1 tablespoon annatto (also called achiote), optional, for coloring
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon mint
- 2 small tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 4 tablespoons instant corn flour
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 cups cabbage, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 package (10 oz) frozen corn
- 2 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1 medium chayote, chopped (added zucchini can be used instead)
- 1/2 cup cilantro, minced
Directions:
1. In a large pot, combine water, annatto, bay leaf, half of the onion, green pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of mint. Bring to a boil.
2. In a large bowl, mix together chicken, beef, the other half of the onion, tomato, oregano, corn flour, pepper, garlic, and salt. Form 1-inch meatballs. Place meatballs in boiling water and lower heat. Cook over low heat for 30–45 minutes.
3. Add carrots, chayote, cabbage, and celery. Cook over low heat for 25 minutes. Add corn and zucchini. Cook for another 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and the rest of the mint.
Nutrition
Yield: 8 servings
Serving size: 11/4 cups
Each serving provides:
Calories: 161
Total fat: 4 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 31 mg
Sodium: 193 mg
Total fiber: 4 g
Protein: 13 g
Carbohydrates: 17 g
Potassium: 461 mg
Tips for Making Delicious Meatball Soup
If you're not a fan of the chicken and beef combination, feel free to use one or the other. Or you can even substitute it with another protein such as turkey, pork, or lamb. And if you're looking for a meatless version, try plant-based meat, which is just as tasty.
While this recipe has an array of tasty and nutritious vegetables, switching these out for others that you prefer more is incredibly simple. Just be sure to account for the ratio of liquid to solids as you don't want the soup to be too runny or too thick. Enjoy!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dedy mantara/Shutterstock.com.