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    My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Main Dishes » Colombian Meatball Soup (sancocho De Albóndigas)

    Colombian Meatball Soup (Sancocho de Albóndigas)

    Mar 31, 2022 · Modified: Apr 17, 2023 by Erica Dinho · 8 Comments

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    This Meatball Soup is filling, hearty and comforting. This dish comes together in one pot and is perfect for a cold night or Sunday family lunch.

    Best Meatball Soup 683x1024Pin

    This Colombian Meatball Soup (Sancocho de Albóndigas), is a comforting soup made with meatballs, potatoes, yuca, plantain, corn, onions, peppers, other vegetables, herbs and spices.

    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin

    Recipe Ingredients

    You will find the printable recipe card with full amounts and cooking directions below.

    Meatball Soup Ingredients 768x1024Pin

    While the ingredient list for this meatball soup recipe looks long, do not be intimidated! The spices and root vegetables are available in many grocery stores and Latin markets here in the US.

    How to Make the Best Meatball Soup

    First you’ll form the meatballs by mixing the ingredients in a large bowl and then rolling into medium size meatballs. I like to add Colombian aliños to the meatballs and the soup for extra flavor.

    You can make the aliños sauce up to 1 week ahead and keep it in the fridge.

    When rolling the meatballs, don’t pack them as they’ll become dense and hard. Wet your hands to roll the meatballs, when your hands are a little damp, the meat doesn’t stick. 

    Meatball Soup Recipe 683x1024Pin

    How Do I Keep My Meatballs From Falling Apart?

    I like to let my meatballs rest in the fridge for about 20 minutes, it helps keeping them from falling apart in the soup.

    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin

    You can store this meatball soup in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed container. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stove top.

    I like to serve this meatball soup with avocado, ají sauce and tomato cabbage salad. You can also serve it with a side of white rice for a filling meal.

    Meatball Soup RecipePin

    Sunday afternoons growing up in Colombia would be commonly spent with my uncles, crowded around the television watching soccer, my aunts busy in the kitchen talking and cooking with Mamita, while us kids were outside playing and having the best time. Sancochos were always popular at Mamita's Sunday dinners where she would make different variations, such as Sancocho de Gallina, Sancocho de Cola, Sancocho Trifasico, among others.

    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin

    The beauty of Colombian sancochos is that you can be creative and really use any type of meat, poultry or seafood and vegetables that you wish. This dish is perfect on a chilly winter day.

    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin

    More Comforting Soups to Try:

    Crab and Coconut Soup (Sopa de Coco y Cangrejo)

    Colombian Ajiaco

    Lentils and Chorizo Soup

    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin
    Sancocho de Albondigas (Meatball Soup)Pin

    Colombian Meatball Soup Recipe

    Erica Dinho
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Colombian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 914 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    Meatballs

    • ½ pound ground pork
    • ½ pound ground beef
    • ¼ cup Colombian aliños
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup precooked cornmeal or masarepa
    • ½ warm water

    Soup

    • 1 cup Colombian aliños sauce
    • 3 ears fresh corn cut into 2 or 3 pieces
    • 12 cups of water or more if necessary
    • 2 green plantains peeled and cut crosswise into 2 inch pieces
    • 4 medium white potatoes peeled and cut in half
    • 1 pound frozen or fresh yuca cut into big pieces
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    To make the meatballs:

    • In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, aliños, salt, cornmeal and water. Knead with your hands until well mixed. Shape the mixture into 8 meatballs, set them on a plate.

    To make the soup:

    • In a large pot, place the water, aliños, meatballs, corn, salt and green plantain. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 45 minutes.
    • Add the potatoes and yuca. Continue cooking for 30 more minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender. Stir in the cilantro.
    • Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve in large soup bowls, dividing the meatballs and vegetables evenly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 914kcalCarbohydrates: 132gProtein: 30gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 1154mgPotassium: 2034mgFiber: 11gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 1235IUVitamin C: 79mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword Colombian sancocho, meatball soup, meatball soup recipe
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!

    More Main Dishes Recipes

    Estofado De Cerdo (Pork Stew)Chuzos De Pollo Con Tocineta (Chicken And Bacon Skewers)Arepa With Cheese, Chorizo And Chimichurri SaucePastel San Pedrino (Cornmeal, Rice And Meat Casserole)Sopa De Carantantas (Corn Masa Fritters Soup)
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    About Erica Dinho

    My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

    Author Page →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Evelyne@cheapethniceatz

      February 24, 2014 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      That looks like the perfect soup for sinner with our cold temperatures back. Very hardy and delicious looking.

      Reply
    2. Angie@Angie's Recipes

      February 25, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      This is a warming and hearty soup!

      Reply
    3. H. López C.

      February 25, 2014 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      Mil y mil gracia por las recetas tan maravillosas.

      Reply
    4. Mayito Castillo

      February 25, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      Suculenta sopa, me encanta, linda presentacion. Gracias por compartirnos tantas delicias.

      Reply
    5. ela@GrayApron

      February 26, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      I love all your chunky, tasty soups...and with bananas...? Why not? Great soup! 🙂 ela

      Reply
    6. Carol at Wild Goose Tea

      February 26, 2014 at 11:35 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the reassuring sentence not to be intimidated. I just stumbled across your site. I am fascinated by your recipes. I am a BIG fan of meatballs. Once I read the recipe, you are right. This is doable.
      Thanx for sharing your expertise and food experiences.

      Reply
    7. fatima

      May 02, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      esta sopa se ve super deliciosa

      Reply
    8. Stephanie Negrón

      April 02, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      Currently enjoying a hot bowl of sancocho de albóndigas. It was delicious and my family loved it! I am Colombian, born in Connecticut, with parents originating from Cali, Colombia. I try to make Colombian dishes for my husband (Puerto Rican) and two young daughters. I love this site and love that I can tap into my roots and share that with my family. This soup was perfectly delicious!

      Reply

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    Erica Dinho Author | My Colombian Recipes

    Hola and welcome to My Colombian Recipes. My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

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