MEXICAN MEATBALL SOUP

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1/4 cup long-grain rice
• 2 (32-ounce) cartons chicken broth (recommend low sodium)
• 2 cups water
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup long grain rice
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 large tomatoes, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 to 3 potatoes, cubed
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds
• 3 to 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon safflower petals (azafran)
• Cilantro sprigs and lime wedges for garnish

1. PREPARE MEATBALLS:
2. In a large mixing bowl combine ground beef with garlic powder, salt, black pepper, onions, and rice.
3. Mix all ingredients together and roll out about 36 to 40 1-inch meatballs.
4. MAKE SOUP:
5. In a large pot, bring broth and water to a boil with salt.
6. Lower heat to medium and carefully drop meatballs into water.
7. Cook meatballs for about 10 to 15 minutes or until meatballs float to the surface, then lower heat to simmer.
8. In skillet, over medium heat, add oil.
9. Add rice and cook for about 2 minutes.
10. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes.
11. Add tomatoes and garlic to skillet and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
12. Add entire skillet contents to meatball pot.
13. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery to meatball pot.
14. Simmer over medium heat until vegetables are cooked, about 20 minutes.
15. Add tomato sauce, coriander seeds, cilantro, and safflower petals and allow to come to a boil so all the flavors come together, about 10 minutes.
16. Ladle soup with about 5 meatballs per bowl.
17. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges, and serve with warm corn tortillas.
18. If you would like your soup spicy, add a spoonful of salsa casera.

ground beef, garlic, salt, ground black pepper, yellow onion, longgrain rice, chicken broth, water, salt, olive oil, long grain rice, yellow onion, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, carrots, celery stalks, tomato sauce, coriander seeds, cilantro, safflower petals, cilantro

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/mexican-meatball-soup (may not work)