Italian Wedding Soup
Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting and hearty dish that combines tender meatballs, fresh greens, and tiny pasta in a flavorful broth. This traditional Italian-American recipe is perfect for gatherings and is sure to warm your heart.
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 whisk
- 1 ladle
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 cup small pasta such as acini di pepe or orzo
- 3 cups fresh spinach or escarole, chopped
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- optional lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and form into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking, heat a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery, sautéing for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the small pasta and cook according to package instructions (about 8-10 minutes) until tender.
- Lower the heat; add the baked meatballs and chopped spinach or escarole to the pot. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes until the greens have wilted.
- Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Feel free to experiment with different greens or add other vegetables as desired.
To make the dish gluten-free, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free options and use gluten-free pasta.
This soup freezes well; just wait until it's completely cooled before transferring to freezer-safe containers.