Albondigas are meatballs, often used in a soup, known to many as “Mexican soul food.” Though we consider albondigas soup (or sopa de albondigas) Mexican food, history follows a line that dates back to the sixth Century, where the Islamic influence dominated the region of Southwestern Europe. Then in the 13th Century, the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella conquered the region which had been occupied by the Muslims. Many of the culinary traditions were integrated into the Spanish community. From there, albondigas made its way to Mexico by way of the conquistadors, where it has remained and flourished into a cultural favorite.