No matter how hard I try to think and dig my brain, there would not be any interesting memories about soup from my childhood! I don't think Mom ever made a soup from scratch. It was always the instant, packaged soup that was quickly whipped up to keep us warm during the monsoon season. And, we always loved those packaged soups.
Irrespective of the season, a soup can be the most comforting meal to enjoy with some bread on the side.
Although, we mostly prefer a creamy vegetable soup for dinner, this light clear soup was a delightful treat for the tummy. Fresh vegetables, flavored with spices and herbs, meatballs for the extra protein and orzo for that starchy creaminess in the broth.
I am sure even noodles or spaghetti will taste great along with the meatballs. I just decided to use orzo as it's my personal favorite pasta for any soup. And, it fits perfectly fine next to the tiny meatballs. That's just my silly theory!
For my vegetarian friends who don't eat meat, I am sure that veg balls will taste equally good. Grate some veggies, add dried herbs or spices, mix it properly, bind it with little bit of flour and you are set to make veg balls for the soup.
The meatballs should be made before you start preparing the soup. It's just pan fried to give a golden crust and later dropped in the soup to cook through.
This soup doesn't have any rules and you can throw whatever vegetables you like in the pot. Just cook the veggies until they're tender and soup will be ready for supper. Inspiration for this recipe came from the Bon Appetite Magazine
If you are wondering why the bread looks orange? It's the compound butter, which I am finding really hard to stay away from!
Meat Balls and Orzo Soup
Ingredients
for the meatballs
- 1 cup minced chicken
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves of garlic (grated)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and freshly grated pepper
- 2 tablespoons oil to pan fry the meatballs
for the soup
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 inch ginger (grated)
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 carrots (cut in bite size)
- ½ celery stalk (cut in bite size)
- ½ cup orzo
- 1 tablespoon fresh or dried basil leaves
- 2 cups of water or broth
- juice of ½ lemon
- salt for seasoning
- grated parmesan for garnishing
Instructions
Prepare the meat balls
- In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients (except oil) and mix until everything is properly combined.
- Make tiny balls and keep it aside.
- In a pan, heat the oil and fry the meatballs rolling it frequently to give it a nice brown crust.
Prepare the soup
- In a deep pan, heat the butter.
- Drop grated ginger, bay leaves and give it a stir.
- Add celery, carrots and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Season with salt and add basil leaves. Cook for couple more minutes.
- Now, add broth or water to the pan.
- Once it starts boiling, add the meatballs and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add orzo to it, season with some more salt and let it cook for 8 minutes.
- Pour lemon juice and check for salt one last time.
- Discard the bay leaves and serve the soup with some grated parmesan on top for garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
Shumaila
Lovely photographs, Kankana and the recipe sounds delicious!
Sneh | Cook Republic
Such a beautiful soup Kankana. I love the opening shot. I love risoni and use it for salads, the boys still need to be older to enjoy highly textured soup I think, they are so fussy, lol.
Asmita
What a gorgeous soup. Absolutely love it. This soup reminds me of Italian wedding soup a bit which is my favorite.
Sara{OneTribeGourmet}
Soups are good for the soul..I can live on soup and yours looks so hearty & delish! My mom always made soup for us growing up in frigid Pennsylvania!
Rekha Kakkar
Soups have always been my favvorite comfort food ,sometimes hearty and full bodied and at other times clear and very light, Your version is looking very appetizing.... Going to try this version with paneer balls!
Kiri W.
This looks wonderfully flavorful and wholesome 🙂 Orzo is such a lovely pasta!
Sandra's Easy Cookin
Talk about gorgeous!! Loving your pics, recipe and presentation! In all aspects it is perfect bowl of soup!
s
really pretty pics, K. and i love how you've made the meatballs with chicken instead of the usual red meat. x s
Krithi
Simply awesome photography dear... you rock!
Reem | Simply Reem
Lovely!!!
I am in love with for photography Kankana.....
Beautiful Recipe!!!!
I love the pic of orzo..... Really lovely shades.....
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals
Goodness I just love your photography! I remember craving light soup while pregnant, could have it everyday and every meal. Yum!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
I love light soup like this - making me feel that I'm doing great job eating healthy and light food for my dieting and at the same time it's really delicious that I don't mind as a main food. Your last picture looks DELICIOUS!!
MoonFace
Lovely pictures. And the soup looks very delicious and comforting. I might do something similar for dinner tonight 🙂
Christine
As usual beautiful settings and pictures! Bravo! And an additional great recipe. Thanks for sharing,
Cheers
Spandana
Lovely setup.... and gorgeous pictures!!! Looks very comforting and delicious!
nisha
superlike the soup bowl n it does look comforting. its still soup weather here, so i might whip some up myself 🙂
chinmayie @ love food eat
Beautiful pictures! I love clear soups as they are lite an filling at the same time 🙂
Rosa
What a beautiful soup and gorgeous pictures! Wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
Nandita
Awesome recipe and great styling. I can't wait to try the veggie version of this recipe Kankana 🙂
Simone
Wow! Love the photos and the styling Kankana! Gorgeous!! And that soup sounds pretty good too. I love soup!