Vietnamese Meatball Soup

This Vietnamese Meatball Soup recipe has become a bit of a staple this winter. Mainly because it’s delicious, easy and quick to make (and it can be customised to include what ever vegetables you have in your fridge). It’s also jam packed with immune supportive ingredients which is so handy at this time of the year.

My 14 year old daughter is a budding singer/ songwriter (you can hear her sing on Instagram). I was talking to her the other day about her inspirations for the lyrics in her songs (which for her age are often very deep). She said she wrote lyrics based on stories or experiences she’s heard about or perhaps a feeling or emotion she’s felt. It got me thinking about how I come up with recipes and I discovered how similar our origins for creativity are. For me a recipe comes to pass based on flavours I’ve enjoyed (generally eating out or when travelling far away places) or based on what I feel like eating (often something my body craves).

In the case of this recipe it was a bit of both – I’ve traveled a lot of Asia (hubby and I backpacked South East Asia, India and Nepal for a year before kids) and I have memories of eating a soup like this in Vietnam. Also, through these colder months, my body has been craving the warming, immune supportive spices in this dish. Creativity comes in so many shapes and forms, for me cooking is one of my favourite creative releases.

Health benefits

This soup is a nourishing powerhouse. The ginger and garlic help support your immune system, while chicken bone broth adds gut-healing properties. The coconut milk brings in healthy fats, and all those veggies pack in antioxidants and essential nutrients to keep you feeling your best. Plus, there’s lots of protein in the meatballs.

Ingredients

You’ll need chicken mince, coconut oil, ginger, garlic, chicken broth, coconut milk, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh coriander, along with your choice of veggies. These ingredients not only add layers of flavour but also bring a variety of health benefits like anti-inflammatory properties from turmeric and a boost of protein from the meatballs.

How to make Vietnamese Meatball Soup

Start by making the delicious broth with coconut oil, fresh ginger, garlic cloves, chicken broth, and coconut milk. While it simmers over a medium heat, prepare the meatballs by mixing chicken mince (ground chicken) with grated carrot, ginger, coriander, and a hint of lime zest. Once the broth is ready, add the meatballs and let them cook through. Blanch your veggies at the end, add lime juice, and serve it all up with a sprinkle of coriander (cilantro) and chilli flakes.

If you own a Thermomix, we’ve also included Thermomix instructions for this recipe.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve this soup hot with added rice noodles or rice vermicelli if you’re feeling extra hungry. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months—just reheat gently on the stovetop to keep everything tender and flavourful.

Vary this Vietnamese Meatball Soup to suit your dietary needs

For a vegetarian option, swap the chicken broth for veggie broth and use tofu instead of meatballs. You can also substitute chicken mince with pork or turkey, or add noodles if you need a heartier meal. Need it to be garlic-free? Skip it and add a pinch of chilli flakes for extra heat.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary goals.

For more delicious, easy to make healthy soup recipes, click HERE.

Vietnamese Meatball Soup

Prep 15 minutes minutes

Cook 15 minutes minutes

Total 30 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

This Vietnamese Meatball Soup is one of my winter go-to's. It’s easy to whip up, packed with flavour, and you can add whatever veggies are in your fridge. Plus, it's loaded with immune-boosting ingredients—perfect for staying healthy through the colder months.

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp ginger root - finely grated
• 3 clove/s garlic - finely grated or crushed
• 750 ml chicken broth or stock (3 cups)
• 400 ml canned coconut milk
• 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar or rapadura
• 4 kaffir lime leaves - vein removed and thinly sliced
• 6-8 spring onion/s - white part sliced
• Vegetables (of choice to add to soup) (optional) sliced very small is best so they cook quickly. I generally add whatever I have at the time, often broccoli, carrot, snow peas, shiitake mushrooms, and a handful of kale or baby spinach added right at the end.
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
• ¼ bunch/s fresh coriander leaves - to serve
• chilli flakes - to serve

Meatballs

• 1 cm ginger root - finely grated
• 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves - finely chopped
• 1 carrot/s - finely grated
• 500 g chicken mince
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ground black pepper - to taste
• 1 lime/s (large) zest only (add juice to soup to finish)

Method

• In a large pot, heat the coconut oil. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute until the garlic just starts softening.
• Now add the chicken broth, coconut milk, turmeric, fish sauce, coconut sugar, kaffir lime leaves and spring onion and bring to a rolling simmer.
• Whilst that's heating, make your meatballs by putting the ginger, coriander, grated carrot, chicken mince, coconut flour, sea salt, black pepper, lime zest, into a large bowl. Mix together until well combined and form into golf sized balls.
• When the soup comes to a rolling simmer, add the meatballs and allow to cook for 5 minutes or so until cooked through (the larger the meatballs the longer they will need).
• If you are adding vegetables, carefully remove the meatballs and divide between the serving bowls and add the vegetables to the soup to blanch them for a couple of minutes (take care not to over cook them). Divide the vegetables between the bowls.
• Lastly, add the lime juice to the soup, taste and add more seasoning if needed (salt and black pepper). 
• Divide the soup between the bowls, garnish with the coriander and serve with chilli flakes.

Thermomix

• Start with the meatballs. If you are going to make your own chicken mince, do this first and set aside.
• Chop the ginger and coriander, 5 seconds, speed 8. Add the carrot 10 seconds, speed 8.
• Add the chicken mince, coconut flour, sea salt, black pepper, lime zest, mix 30 seconds, reverse speed 2 (you may need to scrape the sides during the mixing) - make sure it is well combined and form into golf sized balls. Set aside.
• Now start the soup. Mince the ginger and garlic, 5 seconds, speed 8.
• At this point I transfer it to a pot as the blades will break up the meatballs when cooking them. Continue from step 4 in the method above.

Make-ahead

• Re-heat in a pot over a low heat until just hot.

Store

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Can also be frozen.

Variations

Garlic-free

Omit and replace with a pinch of chilli flakes.

Onion-free

Omit the spring onions.

Seafood-free

Replace the fish sauce with a teaspoon of sea salt.

Home made Chicken Bone Broth

Recipe HERE

Different meatball

You can also sub the chicken for pork or turkey.

Vegetarian

Sub the chicken broth for vegetable broth and the meatballs for cubes of firm organic tofu.

Add noodles

If my tribe are extra hungry, I cook up brown rice noodles, strain and divide between bowls. Then just add the above to it when ready (it heats the noodles). 

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I'd love to hear how you enjoy this delicious, nourishing meal - post a comment or help it to reach more people by rating the recipe.

Course: Soup Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Author: Georgia Harding

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