Meatball Orzo Soup
Try this Balkan-inspired Meatball Orzo Soup with spiced meatballs, orzo pasta, smoky paprika, and lemon. Similar to Italian Wedding Soup but with its own twist.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 250 –300 g ground beef or turkey or chicken
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chubritsa Bulgarian savory
- 1/2 tsp onion powder or 1/2 grated onion, juice squeezed
- Flour for rolling
For the soup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 medium carrot diced
- 1 cup tomato sauce or blended tomatoes
- 1.5 liters vegetable or beef stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup orzo pasta
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl combine ground meat with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, chubritsa, and onion. Mix until sticky. Roll into small balls and coat lightly with flour.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onion and carrot, sauté for 7 to 8 minutes until softened. Stir in tomato sauce and cook 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour in stock, add bay leaf, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil. Drop in the meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add orzo and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes, until pasta and meatballs are cooked.
- Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1612mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2770IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
