Cold Weather Special: Sweet and Sour Meatball Soup

 

This is an old recipe from my godfather who was Prussian/Polish.  My grandmother was German and she had her own similar version.

I have modified the recipe a bit over the years, but here is the basic idea.  Once you get familiar with it free to experiment with things that suit
your taste. 

It is a good cold weather soup.  Süße und Saure Suppe

Into a large pot add four quarts of clear chicken stock.
Add four stalks of celery. If it is green clean the outside
to remove any bitterness.

Add one pound of cleaned pork neckbones. This will add 'richness.'
One or two cloves of garlic.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove the bones and celery. I usually take any meat off the bones
and use it in something else, not in the soup. Sometimes the dog gets lucky.

Take 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound ground pork and 8 to 16 oz.
of plain bread crumbs in a large bowl.  Add one tablespoon celery salt and pepper to taste.
One well diced onion.

Mix in two eggs. If the mixture seems heavy add up to 1/2 cup milk to soften the bread crumbs.
Salt and pepper to taste. A sprinkle of garlic powder if you are of that persuasion.

Bring the stock back up to a boil. Make the meatballs and add them to the stock. Cook them until they float to the top on a slow boil.  Remove them and put them on the side in a bowl.

Add one cup of diced celery, one diced leek, one large potato,
and five or six sliced carrots.
Slice and add one lemon, removing the seeds.
Add one package of cleaned and separated chicken wings or wingettes.  Bring to a slow boil and simmer for about 45 minutes.

Turn the heat down very low.
Add 2 pints of sour cream. 

Add one cup of sugar. Mix lightly without breaking up the carrots and other things in the soup.
Add some stock to the sour cream container and let it cool off.
Add 1/4 cup flour to the stock in the container and mix it well.
Add this back to the soup to thicken it. A rue can also be used. Or cornstarch.

Now taste the soup broth and add sugar to suit your taste. Do not overdo but it should taste slightly sweet.   If it is not sour enough add
some cider vinegar to bring the sourness into balance with the sweetness.

Add back the meatballs and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Don't burn.

Add some chopped scallions for color, and ground pepper. Add salt if needed.

Serve in a bowl with a crusty bread.

The meatballs tend to absorb the liquid overnight. Add some chicken stock if needed.