Savory Meatball Soup

Submitted by Baby Kato

"This savory soup is delicious, quick and so easy to make. Just throw everything into the crock pot and voile, a very tasty treat. Best of all it uses ingredients found in most kitchens. This tasty comfort food does not disappoint. Cook gently on low all day, stirring occasionally, being careful not to boil the soup. My grandma always said, soup boiled is soup that is spoiled."

 

• Ready In: 6hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 22
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted
• 1 large red onion, chopped coarsely
• 1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
• 1 shallot, large, finely chopped
• 1 zucchini, small, peeled, coarsely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, sweet, small, coarsely chopped
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon vinegar, balsamic
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 28 ounces tomatoes, diced, plain, canned
• 1 teaspoon sugar, white (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 bay leaf, fresh
• 1 sprig thyme, fresh
• 1 teaspoon oregano, fresh
• 1⁄2 cup orzo pasta
• 24 small meatballs, frozen
• 1 large potato, diced
• 2 large carrots, sliced
• 1⁄2 cup green beans, cut into thirds
• 1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, garnish

directions

1. Fry the onion, garlic and shallots in butter for 5 minutes.
2. Add the zucchini and red pepper to the onion mixture and fry for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Pour the fried vegetables into your crock pot and add all the remaining ingredients.
4. Cook on low heat all day.
5. When ready to serve garnish with parmesan cheese and enjoy.

Reviews

[Chef on the coast]

Yum! I followed the directions mostly. :) I upped the garlic to 2 large garlic cloves minced. I asked the produce guy at the store what shallots were. I had no idea. lol He said they were basically small onions. So seeing that they were $3 a lb - I went with 1/2 a yellow onion I already had at home. I didn't have balsamic vinegar so subbed apple cider vinegar in place. I did not peel the zucchini and used dried herbs since I already had those. Loved the addition of orzo pasta. This is the first time I have ever used it. I used a full bag of smallish frozen meatballs. There was 32 I think. I used 3 large red potatoes instead of 1 and omitted the green beans as most of the family does not like them. This tasted wonderful with some homemade french bread and grated parmesan cheese. I had to have seconds because I forgot all about the cheese when we sat down to dinner. Everyone loved the soup. There was even enough for me to take to my clients when I saw them a couple days later. Thanks for a hearty, veggie filled soup! I will be making this again! Made for the March 2010 Aussie/NZ recipe swap.

 

[Realtor by day, Chef by night]

Yummy, hearty, thick and tasty soup. We really enjoyed this on this cold snowy winter day. There's almost 2 feet of snow outside so this was perfect! Thanks, Baby Kato!

 

[kitty.rock]

This is a DELICIOUS and pleasing soup ~ I used "meatless" meatballs, which disintegrated eventually in the crockpot, but that was okay. I skipped using the potatoes, and used only a pinch of sugar, based on the other reviewer's comments. A very hearty soup with lots of veggies, which even DD loved (she had 2 bowls, which is highly unusual). Loved that I could make it in the crockpot ~ always a bonus in my book . Thanks Baby Kato ~ made for SOUP'S ON ~ JANUARY DIABETIC FORUM TAG, January 2010!

 

[Chef1MOM-Connie]

Made for CraZe Contest 2009. YUMMY and perfect timing for the cold weather we have been having. This is a different version of a similar soup I ake but I did enjoy this very much. I used homemade frozen meatballs already seasoned, chopped zuchinni from my garden and frozen, and a 1/2 tsp red pepper with additional red pepper flakes at the table for the guys. Very nice, full bodied soup. I did not care for the sweetness from the sugar and will leave it out in the future. I will also add in more taters as we like them. Great recipe and I love the veggies added. Lots of color, lots of texture and the ease of the crockpot make this a winner.

 

[Susie D]

We enjoyed this colorful & full bodied soup. My only complaint was greasiness, but I feel it was the brand of frozen meatballs I had on hand (shopping error). I think that will be fixed by using the brand I normally use or making low fat meatballs myself. The soup was colorful, had a great tasting broth, & I was surprised by how the balsamic vinegar mellowed, but still added depth. The changes I made were substituting celery for zucchini and I totally missed adding the orzo pasta by not writing it down. Served with cornbread on a snowy night it was terrific comfort food. A definite repeat recipe! Good luck in the contest!