Low Carb Albondigas (Mexican Style) Meatball Soup (Optavia Lean & Green)

This is my version of a delicious soup that
is served in many Mexican restaurants. I use
different vegetables than other recipes call
for, but the result is very flavorful & satisfying.

.
 Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive or avocado oil

1 large red or orange bell pepper (1 1/2 cups), chopped

1 large yellow bell pepper (1 1/2 cups), chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 (10 ounce) cans Rotel tomatoes & mild green chiles

5 cups water

2 teaspoons Better Than Bullion Roasted Beef Base

1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion

1 teaspoon dried cilantro leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

36 homemade Optavia low carb meatballs*

6 tablespoons light sour cream, optional

6 ounes finely chopped avocado, optional

1/2 cup finely chopped green onions (white & green parts), optional

Method:

Add the oil to a Dutch oven and heat over medium-low heat. Add the bell peppers and garlic. Stir and saute over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the Rotel, water, bullion, minced onion, cilantro, salt and oregano. Over medium-low heat, bring to a soft boil and then reduce heat to low. Simmer on low for a minimum of 30 minutes. (I allowed to simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes.) Add the meatballs and simmer for an additional 30 minutes. 

Makes six 1 1/4 cup servings with 6 meatballs with vegetables & broth. If desired, garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon of light sour cream, 1 ounce of avocado and/or 4 teaspoons chopped green onions.

*Meatball recipe:

Ingredients: 

olive or avocado oil cooking spray

1 pound 93% lean ground beef

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 envelope Optavia Estential Zesty Cheddar & Italian Herb or Jalapeno Popper Crunchers

1/2 cup plain unsweetened almond milk

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro

Method:

Preheat over to 500*. Line two baking sheets, with sides, with aluminum foil. Lightly spray the foil with the cooking oil spray and set aside.

Add both meats and the ground crunchers to a large bowl. Whisk together the milk and eggs. Add to the meats along with the spices. Stir and mix all of the ingredients together. Use your hands to finish mixing all of the ingredients completely. Form small potions of the meat mixture into balls about the size of large marbles. Place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake one tray at a time for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and no longer pink inside. 

Transfer to a cooling rack to drain off any drippings. Makes 60 small meatballs. 

Each serving with all optional garnishes, equals: 1/2 lean portion, 2 green portions, 1 healthy fat & 3 condiments

Each serving without the sour cream garnish, equals: 1/2 lean portion, 2 green portions, 1 healthy fat & 2 2/5 condiments

Nutritional info per serving (with all garnishes), approximately: 333.6 calories ~ 16.75 grams fat ~ 12.3 grams carbs ~ 10.5 grams net carbs ~ 27 grams protein

Nutritional info per serving (without sour cream), approximately: 311.6 calories ~ 15 grams fat ~ 11.5 grams carbs ~ 9.6 grams net carbs ~ 26.3 grams protein

Notes: Since this meal provides a partial serving of protein & vegetables, so it allows extra protein & vegetables to be added to fuelings and snacks. Fueling hacks that add egg whites to a fueling, plus a snack of 1/2 cup bell pepper, grape tomatoes or celery with reduced fat cream cheese would be good choices for additional meals/fuelings.

Serving suggestion:

One serving of Albondigas Soup with Potato Bread Fueling Bread Bagels. See the bread recipe on this blog:  https://carriekitchencreation.pages.dev/2022/01/this-simple-bread-fueling-can-be-baked.html

You can also visit this blog, for another fueling recipe, that can be added, for additional protein, on the day that you serve this meal: 

Optavia Creamy Garlic Smashed Potatoes Fueling & Fried Egg Hack ~

https://carriekitchencreation.pages.dev/2022/01/optavia-creamy-garlic-smashed-potatoes.html