Ingredients

  • soup
  • 1 cup dry pinto beans
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 beef bouillon cubes
  • 1 tablespoon california chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 chopped onions, divided
  • 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (4 1/4 ounce) can sliced olives, drained
  • 1 cup celery, halved lengthwise and sliced to 1/4-inch
  • 1 cup carrot, halved lengthwise and sliced to 1/4-inch
  • 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
  • meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup onion, minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Method

  • Soak 1 cup pinto beans overnight in 8 cups room-temperature water before starting soup.
  • Add salt, bouillon, chili powder, parsley, garlic and half the chopped onion to beans in water. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
  • Meanwhile, combine meatball ingredients, shape into 1" balls. Saute until brown on all sides. Set aside until beans have finished simmering that first 1-1/2 hours, then add meatballs to soup.
  • If too much of the soup broth has evaporated away, add water at this point, to desired consistency. Then add celery, carrots, tomatoes and remaining chopped onion to soup. Bring to a boil, then turn down, cover and simmer 25 minutes.
  • Add cabbage and simmer 15 minutes.