Albondigas (Meatball) Soup

Albondigas Soup

2 medium eggs 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder 1 ½ cups, chopped Onions 3 cloves of Garlic, minced 2 teaspoons Dried Oregano 1½ teaspoons Ground Coriander 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin 1 teaspoon dried Red Pepper flakes ½ cup Sweet Red Pepper, diced ½ cup Sweet Yellow Pepper, diced 8¼ cups low fat Beef Broth, no salt added

2 cups Whole Plum Tomatoes with juice, no salt added 1 to 2 teaspoons seeded, minced fresh Jalapeño Pepper ½ teaspoon Black Pepper ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt ½ pound Ground Beef, 95% lean ½ pound Ground Pork ¼ cup raw Basmati Rice, white ½ teaspoon salt (optional)

Garnish with:

½ cup chopped scallion plus tops
½ cup Cilantro leaves, fresh
Avocado slices (optional)

1. In an 8-quart soup or saucepan, add the ¼ cup beef broth, the onion, garlic, red and yellow peppers, ground cumin, and sauté stirring frequently, until the onion is golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. (By using the beef broth you have omitted the fat and calories you would have added by using a vegetable oil. I use this method often when sautéing.)

2. Add the remaining beef broth, tomatoes with their juice, dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of the coriander, ½ to 1 teaspoon of the jalapeño pepper, dried red pepper flakes, and ¼ teaspoon of the black pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, rice, egg, sea salt, garlic powder, the remaining ½ teaspoon coriander, ½ to 1 teaspoon jalapeño pepper, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Knead the ingredients together with your hands and then beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well mixed. Shape the meatballs by scooping up a tablespoon of the mixture and rolling them into balls.
4. Drop the meatballs into the simmering soup and stir gently to separate them. Partially cover and simmer the soup for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. There will be a lot of meatballs!
5. Serve soup hot with a garnish of scallions, cilantro leaves and avocado slices, if desired.

Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 1 large onion, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 2 slices white bread
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 pounds ground sirloin
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (1 1/4 teaspoons)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons plus a dash of Worcestershire sauce
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch, plus 1/4 cup for dusting
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth

Directions

1. Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and 1 cup onion. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 35 minutes. Set aside.
2. Soak bread in milk, flipping once. Finely chop. In a large bowl, combine the remaining 1/3 cup onions, the sirloin, garlic cloves, bread, egg, parsley, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix with your hands to combine. Divide meat mixture into 6 oblong patties (about 5 inches long and 3/4 inch thick). Dust with cornstarch.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining oil, and reduce heat to medium. Cook patties, 3 at a time, for 6 minutes, without moving them. Flip, and cook until cooked through, about 9 minutes. Set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining patties.
4. Make the gravy: Add cooked onions and 1 teaspoon cornstarch to same skillet, and stir for 1 minute. Raise heat to medium-high. Pour in broth and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and whisk until broth is clear and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat, and return patties and juices to skillet, spooning sauce on top.