Description
Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting classic made with tender meatballs, leafy greens, small pasta, and a flavorful chicken broth. Despite its name, it refers to the harmonious ‘marriage’ of ingredients rather than an actual wedding tradition.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup acini di pepe pasta
- 4 cups fresh spinach or escarole, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and lightly brown the meatballs. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, carrot, and celery until softened.
- Add chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Return meatballs to the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions.
- Stir in spinach or escarole and cook until wilted.
- Season with additional salt and pepper if needed and serve hot.
Notes
- You can substitute turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Escarole is traditional, but spinach works well.
- Add extra broth if soup thickens after standing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian