Turkey Meatball and Vegetable Soup
In short: Tender turkey meatballs simmered in a clear chicken broth with carrots, baby potatoes and kale. A comforting, easy family soup. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 255 kcal
Meatballs make a soup feel like a proper dinner, and small turkey ones cook quickly in simmering broth. These are bound with breadcrumbs and egg and seasoned with garlic, parsley and oregano, then dropped straight into a pot of carrots, potatoes and celery, where they flavor the broth as they cook. Kale or spinach goes in for the last few minutes. Children tend to like the little meatballs, and the whole pot takes under an hour.
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, grated garlic, grated onion, oregano, salt and pepper with your hands, just until combined. Wet your hands and roll the mixture into about 24 meatballs, each roughly 2.5 cm (1 inch) across.
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the diced onion, carrots and celery for 6 minutes, then add the minced garlic for 1 minute.
- Pour in the stock and add the potatoes and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook for 8 minutes.
- Drop the meatballs into the simmering broth one at a time. Leave them alone for 2 minutes so they set, then simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through (74°C / 165°F) and the potatoes are tender.
- Stir in the kale and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes (1 minute for spinach) until tender.
- Remove the bay leaf and stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Tips
- For more flavor and firmer meatballs, bake them on a lined tray at 220°C (425°F) for 10 minutes before adding them to the soup.
- Ground chicken or pork work in place of turkey. If you use lean ground beef, choose one with about 15 percent fat so the meatballs stay tender.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze the meatballs separately?
Yes. Freeze the raw meatballs on a tray until firm, then bag them for up to 3 months. Drop them into the simmering soup straight from the freezer and add about 5 minutes to the cooking time.
Why do my meatballs fall apart in soup?
The broth may be boiling too hard, or the mixture is too wet. Keep the broth at a gentle simmer and do not stir for the first couple of minutes after the meatballs go in.
Can I use gluten-free breadcrumbs for the meatballs?
Yes. Gluten-free breadcrumbs work, or use 3 tablespoons of quick oats instead. The texture is slightly different but the meatballs hold together well.
How long does it take to make Turkey Meatball and Vegetable Soup?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Turkey Meatball and Vegetable Soup?
About 255 kcal per serving, with 20 g of protein, 23 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 255 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20 g |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
