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Cozy Italian Wedding Soup with Meatballs

Italian wedding soup with meatballs - featured image
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A comforting and easy homemade Italian wedding soup featuring tender meatballs, savory broth, and fresh greens, perfect for cozy dinners and family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend for juiciness)
  • 1/2 pound ground pork (adds richness)
  • 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs (for tenderness)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano recommended)
  • 1 large egg, beaten (room temperature)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (fresh is best)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 cup orzo pasta or acini di pepe
  • 2 cups fresh spinach or escarole, chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional garnish: freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley or basil

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, fresh breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, beaten egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  2. Roll the mixture into small 1-inch meatballs, about 30-35 total. Place them on a parchment-lined tray.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil over high heat.
  5. Carefully add the meatballs to the boiling broth one by one. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Add orzo pasta and chopped spinach (or escarole) to the pot. Cook for another 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender and greens are wilted.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball ingredients to keep meatballs tender. For extra flavor and firmer texture, brown meatballs lightly in a skillet before adding to broth. Keep broth at a gentle simmer to prevent cloudy broth and tough meatballs. Add a splash of water or extra broth if broth reduces too much during simmering. Avoid overcooking pasta to keep it slightly firm. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days; freeze meatballs and broth separately from pasta and greens.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian wedding soup, meatballs, comfort food, easy soup recipe, homemade soup, cozy dinner, orzo soup, spinach soup

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/cozy-italian-wedding-soup-with-meatballs-easy-homemade-comfort-recipe/