Italian Wedding Soup with Beef Meatballs and Spinach
Italian Wedding Soup is a misnomer. This is not the soup served at traditional Italian weddings. Research on the origin of the name indicate the elements of the soup complement each other, or create the perfect marriage of flavour.
Course
Soup
Cuisine
Italian Canadian
Prep Time30minutes
Cook Time1hour
Total Time1hour30minutes
Servings80meatballs
AuthorValerie Lugonja
Ingredients
Ingredients for Meatballs (can be done ahead of time)
1/4cuppanko bread crumbs or saltine cracker crumbs
1teaspoondried basil
1tablespoonfresh flat leafed parsley, minced
1egg
Ingredients for Soup:
2tablespoonsbutter
1cuponion, chopped (1 medium onion)
1cupcarrot, peeled and diced (1 medium carrot)
1clovelocal garlic, peeled and minced
3litres homemade organic chicken broth
Salt and pepper for seasoning
1cupsacini di pepi
1poundfresh tender spinach, chopped
Instructions
Instructions for Meatballs:
In a large bowl, mix together beef, onion, garlic, cheese, salt, bread crumbs, basil, parsley, and egg until combined
Shape into tiny bite-sized meatballs, roughly 1/2 inch in diameter; place onto parchment covered cookie sheet and refrigerate until ready to use
(Refrigerating is important as it will keep them from falling apart)
Instructions for Soup:
In a large stock pot, melt butter; add onion, carrots, and garlic
Saute until tender, but not soft (about 5 minutes)
Add chicken broth; bring to a boil
Turn to simmer, cover, and cook 30 minutes
Taste and season with salt and pepper, to taste
Drop meatballs into broth; cook 7 minutes
Add acini di pepi and cook 5 minutes
Add spinach and cover; simmer for 30 minutes to meld flavours, adding more broth, if needed
Serve with crusty loaf and hearty appetite
Recipe Notes
Freezing Meatballs Place on parchment covered cookie sheets and fast freeze overnight Package in well designed environmentally friendly freezer containers (I package 12 in each as I estimate 5-7 meatballs per serving depending upon starter or luncheon size) Remove from freezer and place in fridge overnight If plopping into the broth frozen, the 7 minute cooking time must be increased by 2-3 minutes !Smaller Crowd Suggestion For a group of 3-4, reduce soup ingredients by 1/3: 1/3 cup small dice onion 1/3 cup small dice carrot 2 teaspoons butter 1 clove garlic, minced 1 litre chicken broth 6 ounces fresh spinach 1/3 cup pasta 10-11 tiny meatballs per person, or 33 meatballs for 3-4 people Follow instructions as written, otherwise.