Mititei in Bors — Meatball Sour Soup

A Romanian everyday soup — tender pork-and-beef meatballs floating in a tangy borș-thickened broth,
with root vegetables, a final scatter of fresh lovage, and a dollop of sour cream. Part chicken-
noodle-soup comfort, part Romanian national identity.

FASTING LEVEL: Non-Fasting (pork, beef, eggs, sour cream)

SERVINGS: 6
TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
For the meatballs:
- 400 g ground pork
- 300 g ground beef
- 1 medium onion, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons long-grain rice
- 1 tablespoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper

For the soup:
- 2 litres water
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 parsnip, diced
- 1 celeriac (small), diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 500 ml borș (or 150 ml white wine vinegar + 350 ml water)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 bunch fresh lovage, chopped (or parsley + celery leaves)
- Salt and black pepper

For serving:
- Sour cream
- Sliced hot pepper
- Fresh lovage

METHOD:
1. Make meatballs: combine all meatball ingredients. Mix for 2 minutes. Form into small balls, about 3 cm. Chill.
2. Heat oil in a large pot. Sauté diced onions, carrots, parsnip, celeriac, and bell pepper for 10 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste. Cook 2 minutes.
4. Add water, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
5. Gently drop meatballs into the simmering soup. Simmer 20 minutes.
6. Add borș (or vinegar-water) to taste. The soup should be pleasantly sour. Simmer 10 more minutes.
7. Stir in lovage (reserve some for garnish). Remove bay leaves.
8. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, extra lovage, and sliced hot pepper.

NOTES:
- Lovage (leuştean) is the essential Romanian soup herb. Its flavour is like strong celery with a hint of parsley. Available at Eastern European grocers or grown easily at home. Parsley + celery leaves approximate it.
- Traditional borș gives the soup a unique lactic tang that vinegar cannot fully replicate. Romanian grocers carry it in bottles.
- A spoonful of dried mountain savory (cimbru) added with the meatballs gives a signature Romanian aroma.
- Excellent leftover. The meatballs become more tender, the flavours round out.

NUTRITION (per serving, approximate):
Calories: 380 | Protein: 28 g | Carbohydrates: 18 g | Fat: 22 g | Fibre: 3 g