Ah, Meatball Soup — a comforting, hearty soup that’s popular in many cuisines, including Hungarian cuisine (known as Húsleves húsgombóccal) 🇭🇺🥣. Small, tender meatballs simmer in a flavorful broth with vegetables and herbs, making it perfect as a starter or a light meal.
🥩 Hungarian Meatball Soup (Húsleves húsgombóccal)
Ingredients (4–6 servings)
For the meatballs:
- ½ lb (225 g) ground beef or a mix of beef & pork
- ½ small onion, finely grated
- 1 small egg
- 2–3 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
For the soup:
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) chicken or beef broth
- 1 medium carrot, sliced
- 1 medium parsnip, sliced (optional)
- 1 small celery root or stalk, diced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1–2 tbsp butter or oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp dried parsley or a few sprigs of fresh parsley
- Optional: small pasta or rice
Directions
Step 1: Prepare meatballs
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, grated onion, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Mix until well combined.
- Shape into small, bite-sized meatballs (~1 inch / 2–3 cm).
Step 2: Prepare soup base
- In a large pot, heat butter or oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent.
- Add carrots, celery, parsnip, and sauté briefly.
- Pour in broth, bring to a gentle boil.
Step 3: Cook meatballs
- Gently drop meatballs into simmering broth.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer — avoid boiling vigorously to prevent meatballs from falling apart.
- Cook 15–20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender.
Step 4: Finish and serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Add fresh or dried parsley.
- Optional: add cooked small pasta, rice, or dumplings for a heartier soup.
- Serve hot with fresh bread.
Tips
- Tender meatballs: Don’t overmix the meat; gentle handling keeps them light and soft.
- Broth flavor: Use homemade broth or add a bay leaf for extra depth.
- Variations: Some recipes add a bit of paprika to the soup itself for a distinctly Hungarian flavor.
If you want, I can also give a Hungarian-style meatball soup with a paprika-garlic twist and small dumplings (galuska) — very traditional and rich in flavor.
Do you want that version?
