Cabbage Soup W/Meatballs (Don’t knock it until you try it )

This is my version of Paula Deen’s Cabbage Soup. After making the original recipe, I found that it need some changes (in my opinion). This recipe takes a little bit of preparation, but it is well worth it. Give it a try and tell me what you think. I literally just finished licking the bottom of my soup bowl (no, seriously). Enjoy!

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Meatballs: 
2lbs ground turkey

1 cup of uncooked rice

1 tablespoon of salt

1  teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon of cumin

1/4 onion minced

2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce

Soup: 

3 cloves garlic minced

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 a yellow onion diced

1 6oz can of tomato paste

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of ketchup

28 oz can of whole tomatoes with juice

1 medium cabbage sliced

1 cup of beef broth(stock)

1/2 cup of water

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/2 cup of monterey jack (cheddar will work as well)

1/2 cup of raisins

Directions

Combine all of the meatball ingredients into a bowl and mix together (USE YOUR HANDS PEOPLE!). Form into walnut sized balls and set aside! Time to make the soup!… In a large stock pot heat your oil over medium high heat, add your garlic and onions and sweat the onions until they are translucent (about a min or two). Then add your tomato paste, whole tomatoes w/ the juice, ketchup, brown sugar, salt and pepper and bring to a fast simmer. This should take about 8 to mins.  Transfer your soup mix into the blender and blend on low for about 30 seconds (or until the whole tomatoes are crushed). Transfer back into the pot and add in your cabbage simmering on medium low heat for another 10 mins (Until cabbage has reduced in size). Now add in the beef stock and water to thin the soup (you can play around with the consistency ). Add in the meatballs and continue to simmer for 20 to 25 mins. This gives the rice enough time to cook as well as the meat. Add in the raisins and cheese when the soup is done cooking but still hot! I garnished mine with avocado, but a nice crusty french or sourdough bread would go great too!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as I did today!