Peasant meatball soup

Country-style meatball soup is a traditional Romanian dish that brings an unforgettable taste and warmth to every home. This simple and delicious recipe is perfect for enjoying with family, and each bite is filled with the flavors of nature. I invite you to discover how to prepare this wonderful soup, step by step.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 6

### Ingredients:

For the soup:
- 1 large onion
- 2 bell peppers (preferably a combination: one red and one green for a pleasant appearance)
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 small celery
- 1 parsley root
- 1 small zucchini
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 liter of borscht (or more, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons homemade tomato paste or 300 g grated tomatoes
- 1 egg
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh lovage (half for cooking, half for serving)

For the meatballs:
- 500 g minced chicken breast
- 1 small onion
- 3 tablespoons rice
- 1 egg
- Salt, to taste

### Instructions:

1. Preparing the vegetables: Start by peeling and chopping the vegetables. Use a sharp knife and a cutting board. Cutting into small pieces will help release the flavors during cooking.

2. Sauté the vegetables: In a large pot, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, carrot, celery, parsley root, and chopped zucchini. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until they become slightly translucent.

3. Add water: After the vegetables have sautéed, add about 2 liters of water to the pot. Let it simmer over low heat. When it starts to boil, reduce the temperature.

4. Preparing the meatballs: In a bowl, mix the minced chicken breast with the grated onion, rice, egg, and salt. Form small balls the size of a walnut. These will be your meatballs.

5. Add the meatballs to the soup: When the vegetables have boiled for about 15 minutes, add the meatballs to the pot, being careful not to overcrowd them. Let them cook together with the soup for 15 minutes.

6. Thickening the soup: In a bowl, beat the egg with a little leftover borscht. Take a spoonful of the soup and gradually add it to the egg mixture, stirring continuously to avoid coagulation. Then pour the mixture into the pot with the soup. Add the tomato paste or grated tomatoes and the remaining borscht. Let it boil for another 10 minutes.

7. Finalizing and serving: Taste the soup and add salt if necessary. When ready, add half of the chopped lovage and stir. Turn off the heat, add the remaining lovage, and cover the pot. Serve the soup hot, with a spoonful of sour cream and hot pepper for an extra flavor boost.

### Practical tips:
- You can replace the chicken breast with pork or beef for a more intense flavor.
- If you want a more sour soup, add more borscht or lemon juice.
- Experiment with different vegetables depending on the season, such as green beans or peas.

Country-style meatball soup is a true culinary delight, perfect for chilly days. Share it with your loved ones and enjoy a meal full of tradition and goodness!

 Ingredients: Vegetable soup ingredients: 1 onion, 2 bell peppers, 1 carrot, 1 celery root, 1 parsley root, a small zucchini, 4 potatoes, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 liter of borscht, 2 tablespoons of homemade tomato paste or 300 grams of grated tomatoes, 1 egg, salt to taste, lovage. For meatballs: 500 grams of minced chicken breast, 1 onion, 3 tablespoons of rice, 1 egg, salt.

 Tags:  meatball soup meatballs