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Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup

希臘羊肉丸米形意粉湯

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — finished dish
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
Easy
Servings
4 servings

Recipe overview

Greek-style lamb meatballs simmer with tomato, chicken stock and rice-shaped orzo, finished with lemon for a practical family soup.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

  • 500 g minced lamb
  • 60 g breadcrumbs
  • 1 piece egg
  • 1/2 piece onion
  • 2 clove garlic

Seasoning

  • 10 g parsley
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Stock base

  • 1/2 piece onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
  • 1500 ml chicken stock
  • 150 g orzo pasta

Garnish

  • 1 piece lemons
  • 5 g parsley
Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — ingredient overview

02

Tools

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • mixing bowl
  • measuring cup
  • measuring spoons
  • pot
  • wooden spoon
  • tongs
  • food thermometer
  • serving bowl
Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — tool overview

03

Steps

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Prepare aromatics

Step 1

Prepare aromatics

Finely grate the meatball half-onion and dice the soup half; separately chop 2 garlic cloves and 1 garlic clove, then divide parsley into 10 g and 5 g.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Mix the meatball base

Step 2

Mix the meatball base

Gently mix lamb, breadcrumbs, egg, grated onion, 2 garlic cloves, 10 g parsley, oregano and all measured meatball salt and pepper.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Shape twenty meatballs

Step 3

Shape twenty meatballs

Divide into exactly 20 portions and shape 20 equal small meatballs, arranged four rows of five.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Heat the pot and oil

Step 4

Heat the pot and oil

Heat the soup pot and 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium for exactly 2 minutes.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Brown two batches

Step 5

Brown two batches

Brown the 20 meatballs in exactly two batches of 10 for 5 minutes each; time 10 minutes total, change at 5 minutes, then remove all.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Soften onion and garlic

Step 6

Soften onion and garlic

Cook the diced soup half-onion and 1 chopped garlic clove in the same pot over medium for exactly 5 minutes.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Add tomato and stock

Step 7

Add tomato and stock

Add tomatoes, 1.5 litres chicken stock and all soup salt; cook exactly 5 minutes to a gentle boil.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Return the meatballs

Step 8

Return the meatballs

Return all 20 meatballs and simmer on low for exactly 10 minutes.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Add the orzo

Step 9

Add the orzo

Stir in 150 g orzo and cook for the usual package time of exactly 10 minutes, stirring once at 5 minutes.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Check doneness

Step 10

Check doneness

Confirm the thickest meatball reaches at least 71°C and the orzo is tender without becoming mushy; keep all 20 meatballs intact.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Add lemon

Step 11

Add lemon

Turn off the heat, squeeze in all juice from 1 lemon and stir; keep seeds out of the soup.

Greek Lamb Meatball and Orzo Soup — Rest and serve

Step 12

Rest and serve

Rest exactly 5 minutes, stir in the remaining 5 g parsley, then divide all 20 meatballs, orzo and broth among 4 white bowls, exactly 5 meatballs per bowl.

Common mistakes

  1. Starting the heat before mise en place is complete causes uneven doneness.
  2. Crowding the pan makes meat release water instead of browning evenly.
  3. Serving without checking the stated centre doneness or tasting the sauce.

Tips

Measure every ingredient by group before starting.

Adjust salt and pepper gradually only after the sauce has reduced.

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