Savory Albondigas Soup from Spain

When the temperature drops and winter begins to appear, the season of eating soups also arrives. 

Of course, it can be tiring always to eat the same type of soup, but fortunately, the authentic albondigas soup comes to the rescue.

This recipe can be made by anyone since it is practically impossible for it to go wrong. It only takes a couple of main ingredients, and with a single pot, you can prepare a fantastic Spanish soup recipe that will keep you warm.

Keep reading this article as I teach you what albondigas soup is, how to make albondigas soup, and more about this delicious Andalusian dish.  

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Background of the Dish

Considering how cold Andalusia is during winter, we shouldn’t be surprised by the large number of soup recipes that come from that region. 

However, the meatloaf soup stands out above the rest. This recipe was developed in southern Spain by the Muslim poet, gastronomer, musician, and singer Ziryab. 

He lived in the province of Cordoba, located in Andalusia, and there he developed a large number of recipes, among which this meatloaf soup stands out.

Nowadays there are hundreds of albondigas soup recipes, but in this article, I’ll show you how to make the best version. 

In this recipe, the albondigas are the stars of the soup, so if you like meat and soup you should try them. 

Things You’ll Need for Albondigas Soup

To make this easy albondigas soup, you just need some ground meat, broth, and vegetables. 

Nevertheless, you can make thousands of replacements and you will still have a delicious albondigas soup as a result. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb ground pork 
• 1/2 lb ground beef 
• 1  onion, finely chopped 
• 3 crushed garlic cloves 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• 1/2 cup + 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 2 eggs
• 10 cups (2.3L) beef broth 
• 3 carrots (peeled and sliced)
• 4 potatoes (peeled and cut)

How to Make Albondigas Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. To start things off with this meatball soup recipe, mix the ground meat, the eggs, the chopped onion, the crushed garlic cloves, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Make sure it becomes a homogenous ball, and then assemble the meatballs. Set them aside.

2. In a large pot pour the beef broth, and when it boils, add the meatballs, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 20 minutes. 

3. Add the carrot and potatoes, and cook for 20 more minutes.

4. Sprinkle on top some chopped cilantro and your Albondiga soup recipe is ready. Serve the meatball soup warm, and as an optional step, you can pour some shredded cheese on top. 

Substitution of Ingredients

The best of both worlds collide in this albondigas soup recipe, since it has the perfect amount of meat, vegetables, and it is a wonderful winter recipe. 

However, there are different changes that you can make to the ingredients if you can’t find some of them or if they don’t fit your diet.

As it happens with other albondigas recipes, you can use any seasoning of your choice. 

If you are looking for a vegan alternative, you can replace the egg with 3 tablespoons of vegan mayonnaise, ketchup, or any type of sauce.

When it comes to vegetables, you can add bell peppers, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, corn, and more. Just let your mind fly and use anything that you like. 

If you are a fan of Spanish soups, then you should try making the recipe for Spanish Beef Soup , Spanish chorizo soup, and the Spanish pumpkin soup.

If you want to travel around Andalusia without leaving your home, then try making the famous Spanish beef empanadas recipe or the Spanish meatballs recipe.

Tips on Serving Albondigas Soup

Once you finish making the recipe for albondigas soup, then you will be ready to serve them. 

The best part is that you can have them for lunch or dinner, and if you store them in a soup-safe Thermo or Tupper, then you can take the albondigas soup to eat at work. 

If you are eating them at home, you can pour some shredded parmesan cheese on top, since it goes really well with the meat of the albondigas. 

You can also make some homemade croutons with your favorite bread, by toasting it with olive oil and a little bit of garlic.

The Spanish potato soup with garlic and eggs is also a must-try when it comes to Spanish soups.

How to Store Albondigas Soup

This recipe stands out among other albondigas soup recipes because, in this case, you can freeze the soup with no problem. 

Just make the albondigas soup as listed, then let it cool to room temperature, and they are ready to be frozen for up to 30 days or stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

In both cases, store the albondigas soup in a covered container. 

Recipe Card: Albondigas soup

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