Ranchero Meatball Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 cups beef stock
• 1 (19 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 2 small onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 (19 ounce) can red kidney beans or 1 (19 ounce) can black beans, undrained
• 1/2 green bell peppers or 1/2 yellow bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 small zucchini, sliced

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan, stir together the stock, tomatoes, 1 onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil.
• 2 reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until the flavours have blended.
• 3 meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat together the egg, remaining onion, oregano and salt; mix in the beef, breaking up large pieces with a spoon.
• 4 stir the rice into the meat mixture.
• 5 with moistened hands, shape into 1-inch balls.
• 6 add the meatballs and beans to the saucepan; bring to a boil.
• 7 reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• 8 add the pepper and zucchini; cover and simmer for 15 minutes more or until the meatballs are cooked through.
• 9 taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.