Sour Meatball Soup with Cabbage Juice

To prepare a delicious meatball soup, start by blanching the washed rice in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. This process helps improve the rice's texture and allows it to better absorb the flavors from the soup. After this time, rinse the rice under cold running water to stop the cooking process and drain it well.

Next, take pork or beef, depending on your preference, and grind it twice through a meat grinder to achieve a fine texture that will help form the meatballs. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the drained rice, a tablespoon of flour (optional, to bind the mixture), a bunch of finely chopped fresh parsley, eggs, a finely chopped onion, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Knead the mixture well so that all the ingredients combine perfectly.

Once you have a homogeneous mixture, form small meatballs, rounding them with your hand moistened in cold water or oil to prevent sticking. Dredging the meatballs in flour before placing them on a lightly oiled or water-sprinkled platter will help achieve a crispy crust when they are boiled.

Separately, in a pot, sauté the grated vegetables on a large grater or sliced, along with the remaining onion, until they start to soften. Add bone broth or water and let it simmer until the vegetables are half-cooked. Then, add the warm cabbage juice that you have boiled separately and strained, and continue to simmer the mixture.

Now it's time to add the meatballs, gently introducing them into the soup one by one, making sure to distribute them evenly across the surface. Let them simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until they rise to the surface, indicating they are cooked. Finally, adjust the taste with salt and pepper, to your liking.

Turn off the heat and sprinkle the mixture of green onions, lovage, and the remaining parsley leaves. Cover the pot and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve the meatball soup in bowls, tureens, or mugs, hot, alongside sour cream and, if desired, with hot peppers or pickled hot peppers for an extra flavor boost. This soup is not only nourishing but also brings a touch of comfort on cool days, making it a perfect choice for family meals.