Little known fact about me is that I have a degree in Biochemistry and at one time in my life I spent a whole lot of time in laboratories. So our Mad Scientist theme it’s a fun little trip down memory lane, but this time, I get to create creepy science-y food for Halloween. For this recipe, I’m back in the laboratory experimenting with science’s most trusted assistant…the lab rat. Sure they’re used for all kinds of research, but this time I subjected them to a battery of culinary tests that turned out disgustingly delicious. I transformed Albondigas Soup by simply making the meatballs into rats. All the yummy, spicy goodness of Albondigas just with a swarm of swimming rats. Eeew! Enjoy!
Lab Rat Soup
Looking for an easy way to use up all those pesky rats in the laboratory? Feed your inner Mad Scientist and make Lab Rat Soup for Halloween.
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Servings: 8
Equipment
- Silicone rat mold (optional)
Ingredients
Lab Rat (Meatballs)
- 1 lb. ground turkey, beef or pork (I used ground turkey)
- 2 tbsp. bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp. milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 3 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
- 1 small red onion, cut into rings (rat tails)
- black sesame seeds (optional) (rat eyes and noses)
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 cup celery, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. tomato sauce with garlic
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp. cumin
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. Mexican oregano
- 1½ cups yellow potatoes, diced (about 2 medium potatoes)
- 1 cup zucchini, chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Lab Rat (Meatballs)
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Cut red onion into ¼-inch slices and then cut one side only half way to give you long rings that can be cut to length for the rat tails.
- To make Rat Meatballs without a mold:Mix all meatball ingredients together until just combined. Use a small cookie scoop to keep them uniform in size. Scoop and roll the meatball into a pointed egg shape and pinch the pointed end to create the face and then use a small ¼ tsp measuring spoon to create the ears. Add red onion tail and sesame seed eyes and noses if desired. (Note: For this batch, I used peppercorns for the nose, but I do not recommend using them they are very potent when you crunch down on them and ruins the soup. I speak from experience so, please use black sesame seeds instead or omit.)Bake in 350° oven for 10 minutes and remove from oven and set aside. Prepare soup base.
- To make Rat Meatballs with a mold: Mix all meatball ingredients together until just combined. Press a small amount of meat into rat silicone mold to create a rounded body. Add red onion tail and place mold in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. Remove meatballs from the mold and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until all the meat is molded into rats. Optional: Before baking, add black sesame seeds to form the nose and eyes if desired...I'll be honest, this step is very tedious so feel free to omit this step as the meatballs having rat tails will speak for itself. Bake in 350° oven for 10 minutes and remove from oven and set aside. Prepare soup base.
Soup Base
- In a large Dutch oven, sauté onions, carrots, and celery in oil for about 8 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and heat until fragrant about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, chicken stock, spices, potatoes, and zucchini and heat until potatoes are done, about 15-20 minutes. Add rat meatballs to heat thru and serve with cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Enjoy!
Notes
I got this silicone Rat Mold from Michael's in October 2021.
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You just made my day. Next year, 2023, we are having a witches ball. The table will be lined for feasting down the center with fruits, cheeses, dips, etc., but dinner is a butternut apple soup with toasted spices and I have been looking for another idea that included meat. Ta daa!!!
Awesome! So glad you like this soup idea! Your witches ball sounds amazing! Happy Halloween!
🖤Lori