Description
This hearty porcupine soup features tender rice-filled meatballs simmered in a flavorful tomato broth with vegetables and spices. Perfect for a comforting family meal that’s budget-friendly and easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
- ½ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup potatoes, cubed
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)
- Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add carrots, celery, and potatoes, cooking until softened.
- Add broth and tomatoes: Pour in the broth, crushed tomatoes, parsley, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer the meatballs: Gently add the meatballs into the pot, cover, and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes until rice is tender and meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve: Remove the bay leaf, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with crusty bread.
Notes
- Substitute brown rice for a nuttier flavor, but increase cooking time accordingly.
- For a lower-carb option, replace rice with cauliflower rice.
- This soup stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American comfort food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Porcupine soup, meatball soup, rice meatballs, comforting soup, easy soup recipe, budget-friendly meal, homemade soup