Family Traditions
Every Christmas eve, my wonderful mother-in-law made the most amazing Albondigas soup. I still carry on the tradition. She also serves tamales, which she used to buy every year from a secret source in East Los Angeles. I now make my own tamales!
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 1 hrs 30 mins
Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Ingredients
Meatballs
1 pound ground beef
½ pound ground pork
¼ cup uncooked rice
1 egg
Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
4 quarts beef broth
3 carrots, sliced
6 stalks celery, sliced
3 – 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
salt & pepper, to taste
fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Directions
1Prepare the meatballs. Mix rice into the meat. Mix in raw egg. Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Put the meatballs on a sheet pan a refrigerate at least an hour.
2Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed pot (5-qt) over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
3Add broth and tomato sauce. Bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer. Add carrots and celery. Add the meatballs to the simmering soup, one at a time. Cover and let simmer for 1½ - 2 hours. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.