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This recipe for Caldo de Albondigas is the way my grandma made it for me, for our family, for anyone who stopped by to visit her humble home in Durango, Mexico.
A spoonful of love and nurturing from my beloved grandmother to you.
This is one of many treasured Mexican stews. Others include Birria de Res, Frijoles Charros, Menudo.
Table of Contents
How to Make It
- Start by adding the meatball ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix well to combine everything. It will look like a giant meatball.
You can make smaller meatballs. They will cook faster this way.
I used dry white rice. Some people will use leftover cooked rice or rinsed rice. They all work in this dish.
Yerbabuena, or mint. This is an important ingredient when making this Caldo de Albondigas recipe. It gives this Mexican soup a distinct taste.
• Using your hands, form meatballs. About 1 ½” in diameters. Place in the fridge until ready to use.
Note: If you have made monster-size meatballs, or larger than 2” in diameter, it will take them longer to cook.
Albondigas in English means “meatballs.”
- Add the tomato sauce ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
The tomato sauce is very simple. It’s the same tomato sauce used to make Sopa de Conchas and Entomatadas.
Pro Tip: Some people will tell you to strain the sauce. It really depends on your blender.
If you see that the sauce has pieces of tomato or onion in it, it might need straining. If you have a super awesome blender that zips everything clean, then you’re good to go.
- Heat oil in a large stock pot and add the tomato sauce.
- After it has been cooking for 5 minutes, gently and carefully add the meatballs. One by one.
Can you cook meatballs in a frying pan?
Yes. Heat oil and sear the meatballs on all sides before adding to the stock pot.
Add tomato sauce, broth, and desired veggies. Simmer for 30 minutes.
I prefer the easy way. That is, putting the raw meatballs straight into the pot and saving myself the extra dishes to wash.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Albondigas Soup, or al-BON-dee-gus. Some people will put the accent mark over the wrong syllable, causing confusion on the pronunciation.
Name that Soup
I know this dish as Caldo de Albondigas. Some people refer to this dish as “Albondigas en Caldillo.”
Others will call it Sopa de Albondigas. Americans call it Mexican Meatball Soup, or Albondigas Soup.
This next part is up to you. You can add one, two, or all three of the above.
However, depending on how long it takes them to cook is when you should add them to the pot.
- Add the potato and carrot after the meatballs begin to simmer in the pot.
- If using the calabacita, add to the pot at the last 10 minutes of cooking.
My grandmother always added potatoes to the soup. It thickens the sauce. Occasionally, a chipotle would also make it in the pot for some extra heat.
Where did this recipe originate from?
The word “albóndigas” is derived from the Arabic “al-bunduq,” or hazelnut, or something round.
The belief is that Albóndigas originated as a Berber or Arab dish and were imported to Spain when it was under Muslim rule.
• Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes.
Once you have added the veggies, be sure to give everything a gentle stir. Be very careful NOT to break up the meatballs.
If you’re in the mood for soup, here’s a list of Authentic Mexican Soups that will surely hit the spot.
How Long Does Last?
- Caldo de Albondigas lasts 3-5 days in the fridge.
- It lasts 4-6 months in the freezer in a sealable, airtight plastic bag.
You might see this soup served in a bowl with extra rice. A squeeze of lime and chopped cilantro add an extra touch of brightness to this dish. A delicious soup for your entire troop.
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Caldo de Albóndigas (Mexican Meatball Soup)
Ingredients
For Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 10 mint leaves finely chopped
- ½ cup white rice
- ¼ tspn dried oregano
- 1 tspn salt
- ½ tspn pepper
- ¼ onion finely diced
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 2 eggs
For the Tomato Sauce
- 4 tomatoes rough chopped
- 1 cup water
- ¼ onion rough chopped
- 1 garlic clove whole
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ½ cup beef broth
Optional Vegetables
- 1 carrot diced
- 1 potato peeled and diced
- 1 calabacita diced (or zucchini)
Instructions
For the Meatballs
- In a large bowl, add the beef, pork, mint, rice, oregano, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and eggs.
- Mix until well combined.
- Form meatballs. About the 1” to 1 ½" in diameter.
- Repeat until you no longer have meat.
- Place in the fridge until ready to use.
For the Tomato Sauce
- In the meantime, add the tomatoes, water, onion, and garlic to a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large stock pot.
- Add the tomato sauce. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Gently and carefully add the meatballs to the pot, one-by-one.
- Add the beef broth. Stir gently.
- Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the carrots and potatoes.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and let cook for 30 minutes.
- Note: if you are using the calabacita, add at the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Serve with lime and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Yes. Heat oil and sear the meatballs on all sides before adding to the stock pot.
Add tomato sauce, broth, and desired veggies. Simmer for 30 minutes. - However, this method will create more dishes to wash.
Nutrition
Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
So simple, and so good!
Yes! So good.
I made it once before but couldn’t find ground pork, so I used Italian sausage.
My husband loved them, but I’m going to try again today with ground pork.
Sounds delicious. Hope you and your husband like this Caldo de Albóndigas recipe.
Looks delicious. I am going to follow your recipe exactly.
Thank you for posting.
You’re going to love it. Provecho!
Yum. This recipe would have been perfect when we had that cold spell along with a bunch of snow. I’ll have to make it next time it’s cold outside.
It’s perfect for that kind of weather! Hope you try it
Now this sounds like a soup I need to try out! I bet it tastes absolutely delicious and I love the inclusion of meatballs.
It is delicious. Hope you try it!
Grandma inspired recipes are always the best. This meatball soup sounds delicious.
So good right? We love this one too
This sounds like a great combination of soup and meatballs. It is still so cold here, and a perfect time to try out a new soup.
Glad you enjoyed this! Hope you try it
Do you have to cook the rice before mixing it with the meats ?
No. The rice cooks with the meatballs.
I love that this is a dish your grandmother made for anyone that came to the house. She sounds like a wonderful woman. This dish looks delicious too!
Thank you so much. Hope you try it!
This is so delicious! I’ve made your albondigas recipe a few times and it’s always great! The touch of mint and ground pork, totally makes the soup!!!! A definite must try! Thank you so much for all of your delicious recipes! I can’t say enough about how good they are!
All of the recipes I’ve made by you, have always been a hit!!!
Thank you! I love this recipe because it’s my grandmother’s. Each time I make it, I remember her. Happy to hear that you are enjoying it too.
This looks delicious! The non-vegetarians in my family will love it.
So glad you enjoyed this Beth! Hope you try it
This looks like an interesting dish. I’ve never had or even heard of this before. I’ll have to try it out.
Hope you try it! It’s delicious
Made it for my fiancé and he mentioned how this reminds him of how his parents cooked dishes. I am so thankful for your recipes!!!
Aww! That’s so great to hear.
That dish looks so good and so hearty. I will have to save your recipe for later.
Thanks. Hope you try it!
The tomato sauce seems savory. I think I will love this dish.
So savory. Hope you try it!
Caldo de Albóndigas, aka Mexican Meatball Soup, is one of my favorites. I spent part of my summers in Mexico, and yours is the closest Caldo de Albóndigas I have seen and tasted thus far. Thanks for sharing your recipe-it came out fabulous!
That’s great to hear! Glad you enjoyed the recipe and that it reminded you of your time in Mexico. Caldo de Albóndigas is definitely a comforting and flavorful dish that many people enjoy.