Romanian Meatball Soup

I learned to make this meatball soup recipe here in Romania, maybe there are some things which I improvised, but not many. It would be perfect to cook the soup with meat/bone stock, but, if you don't have time to boil it, it can be replaced with water. Of course, the taste will be different, test both variants of meatball soup and see.

Ingredients
White onion
2 pieces
+ 1 onion for the bone stock
Carrots
1 piece
+ 1 carrot for the bone stock
Bell pepper
1 piece
+ 1 pepper for the bone stock
Celery root
1 piece
half for the bone stock, and the other half, diced for the meatball soup
Parsnip
200 g
for the bone stock
Canned chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp
Ground beef meat
500 g
or chicken, pork
Rice
3 tbsp
boil in water and let cool
Sunflower oil
50 ml
Dry savory
1 tsp
Fresh parsley
1 bunch
Egg
1 piece
Borsch/Lemon juice
0.5 l
Soup bones
500 g
for the stock
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp
season to taste, both the meatballs and the soup
Step by step
Step 1

Wash, peel vegetables - onions, carrots, peppers, celery, parsnip.

Cook the bone broth - in a pot, place the bones, half the celery, parsnip, carrot, onion, pepper - all whole. When it comes to the boil, skim off the foam, turn heat to low and cook for 2-3 hours.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 1
Step 2

Thinly cut 1 onion and the peppers and place in a 5 liter pot.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 2
Step 3

Add the finely chopped celery.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 3
Step 4

Do the same with the carrot. I improvised a bit and added some leek too.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 4
Step 5

In a frying pan, sauté a diced onion, add the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 5
Step 6

Add the onion and tomato mixture to the pot, pour over 2-3 liters of water (in order for the meatball soup to be even more delicious, it would be good to pour the bone stock) and bring to the boil.

When it starts to boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 6
Step 7

In a plate, mix the minced meat with the boiled rice, egg, salt and black pepper. You can also add your favorite greens. Mix well (best mix with your hands :)

 

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 7
Step 8

Form small, medium-sized balls from this mixture and arrange them on a plate or cutting board sprinkled with water.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 8
Step 9

When the vegetables have been boiling for 30 minutes, drop the meatballs carefully in the soup, cook over high heat until the soup comes to the boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

After this time, adjust the taste with sour borscht and salt.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 9
Step 10

Finely chop the parsley.

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 10
Step 11

After 10-15 minutes, drizzle the parsley and thyme over the soup and turn off heat after 2-3 minutes.

Let infuse for 20-30 minutes before serving, the pot covered with a lid.

The meatball soup is ready!

Enjoy!

Romanian Meatball Soup - Step 11
Quantity: 4 l (6-7 servings)
Prep time:
50 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 50 min