Albondigas Soup

INGREDIENTS

For Meatballs

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ onion, chopped
• ½ cup long grain rice, I used Basmati
• 1 egg, beaten
• ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh oregano, chopped or about 1 tbsp dry oregano
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp chili powder
• salt and pepper to taste

For Albondigas soup

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped to your liking
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups beef broth
• 3 cups water
• 1 can (14.5 oz) chopped tomatoes
• salt and pepper to taste
• juice from ½ lemon
• dash of cayenne pepper
• fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish
• 
  
• INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl add all the meatball ingredients together and mix well. Shape into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. You should get about 30 to 35 meatballs, depending on how big you make them. Place meatballs in fridge until ready to add to soup.
2. Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottom 5 qt pot to medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until onion is translucent, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add chopped carrots and potatoes to pot and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until you get a nice caramelization going.
3. Add broth, water and can of tomatoes and seasonings. Bring to a boil and turn down heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. Add meatballs to pot one at a time, slowly. Using a wooden spoon slowly stir. Cover and let cook over low to medium heat for another 15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Add lemon juice and herbs and taste and adjust for seasoning.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe

For about 24 nuggets
Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken
• ¼ cup old-fashioned oats
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 teaspoon Zatarain’s Creole Seasoning, divided (optional) sub paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¾ cup breadcrumbs

Steps:

1. In a large bowl, combine chicken, oatmeal, half the grated parmesan (1/8 cup), half the Zatarain’s seasoning (or paprika) (1/2 teaspoon), garlic powder and pepper. Knead dry ingredients into ground chicken.
2. Moisten hands to prevent sticking and form 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture into a ball. Press into a cookie cutter for shaped nuggets or flatten with fingers for a basic nugget shape.
3. In small bowl, combine breadcrumbs with remaining Zatarain’s seasoning and grated parmesan.
4. Press nuggets into bread crumb mixture and turn over, patting crumbs into surface to coat evenly.
   –At this point you can freeze– or
5. To bake: Preheat oven to 375° F. Arrange nuggets on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper. Lightly spray nuggets themselves with cooking spray or olive oil for a crispier coating (optional). Bake 15-20 minutes, turning once, and checking – don’t overcook! These baked nuggets will not really brown (unless you pan fry in oil) – if browning is desired, place under broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of cooking.