Bulgarian Meatball Soup (Supa Topcheta)

Supa topcheta is a popular Bulgarian soup.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• 6 Tbsp rice
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried savory
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 6 cups water
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• ½ bunch green onions, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced thin
• 3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• ½ bunch parsley, minced
• 1 egg
• 1 lemon, juiced

Steps

1. Combine beef, rice, paprika, and savory.
2. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix lightly but thoroughly.
3. Form mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls, then roll in flour.
4. Combine water, bouillon cubes, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, green onions, green pepper, carrots, and tomatoes in large pot. Cover, bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
5. Add meatballs, cover, and bring to boil again. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
6. Add chiles and simmer, covered, 40 minutes or until rice is cooked.
7. Add parsley during last 5 minutes of cooking time. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
8. Just before serving, beat egg with lemon juice. Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons hot soup into egg mixture, then stir egg mixture into soup.
9. Heat gently, stirring, until soup is thickened slightly, but do not allow to boil.

More recipes with beef, rice, paprika, savory, broth or stock, onion, bell pepper, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, eggs or lemon

Adapted from “Bulgarian Meatball Soup (Supa Topcheta)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Reformatted for this site; this page's recipe text is shared under the same license.