When I was working in comms at NZ Post my colleague Tanya Stoyanof sent me this recipe and is one of my oldest emails sitting in my inbox nothing done about. It's been sitting there stewing for over three years and I think it's about time I take it out and cook it.
Tanya, my colleague's family originates from Bulgaria the country where literature was born. This soup is literature defined in a soup pot and eats like a good heart rendering novel combining all the hearty ingredients to stave off the wintery cold.
Mince is regularly on sale at the supermarkets most of these days and getting 500g mince for a fiver if not under is doable on most shopping trips.
Tip: Edit and use the meatball recipe here for a quick Indian! Just stir under Patek Korma curry sauce and a can of coconut cream for an Indian variation on this recipe and substitute the basil with coriander Raj's your uncle!
Meatballs:
500g lean beef mince
1 red onion - grated
3 cloves garlic - crushed
Handful finely chopped fresh basil, or fresh out of the tube
Salt, pepper to season
1 lightly beaten egg
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Mix all ingreds together and shape tablespoonfuls into balls
Soup
Make tomato sauce or cheat like I do and buy ready made Tomato/Garlic/Basil pasta sauce (Dolmio 550g I think?) or a can of Watties chunky tomatoe soup works a treat and is cheap!
4 cups good qual chick stock (homemade is best)
2 cups water
Put in deep saucepan and bring to the boil
Add meatballs and turn heat down to gentle boil for approx 10mins plus.
Add veggies of your choice preferably what's on special at the supermarket e.g. diced courgette, spinach leaves, fresh beans cut in half, carrots, celery and 1/2 cup of risoni (Barilla is best. See if it's on special!)
Continue to simmer uncovered for approx 5 mins or until pasta is cooked, veggies tender and meatballs done
Serve immediately in big bowls plain or sprinkled with chopped Italian parsley (optional) and grated fresh parmesan
Yummy with toast or hot crusty bread like Ciabatta if you can stretch your pennies that far
