Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/italian-wedding-soup/

A metal spoon is shown in a bowl of healthy Italian wedding soup.

4.98 from 79 votes

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Italian Wedding Soup is the perfect marriage of flavors! Named not after weddings, but the delicious union of tender meatballs and leafy greens in a savory broth, this soup is hearty yet light and rich yet bright.

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

Total Time1

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: servings

Author: London Brazil

Ingredients

Homemade Meatballs

½ pound 90/10 ground beef
½ pound mild Italian ground pork sausage
½ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg beaten
¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 garlic cloves finely minced
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil divided

Italian Wedding Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
½ small white onion diced
3 medium carrots peeled and diced
3 celery ribs diced
3 garlic cloves finely minced
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup acini de pepe pasta see note
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, plus more for serving
3 cups fresh baby spinach roughly chopped
Fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped, optional

Instructions

Make the Homemade Meatballs: Add the ground beef, ground sausage, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Scoop out 2 teaspoons of the mixture at a time and use your hands to roll it into a meatball. (If your hands get sticky, spritz them with nonstick cooking spray and continue rolling.) You should end up with roughly 48 meatballs.
½ pound 90/10 ground beef, ½ pound mild Italian ground pork sausage, ½ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, ¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Line a plate with paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add half of the meatballs. Cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes, or until the balls are lightly browned on all sides. Transfer meatballs to the paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining oil and meatballs.
2 tablespoons olive oil
Make the Italian Wedding Soup: To the same pot you used for the meatballs, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir in the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 3-4 minutes over medium heat, or until tender. Add garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ small white onion, 3 medium carrots, 3 celery ribs, 3 garlic cloves
Pour in the broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.
8 cups chicken broth
Add the pasta gradually while stirring to avoid clumping. Mix in the salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and meatballs. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the pasta is tender, about 7-9 minutes.
1 cup acini de pepe pasta, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Toss in the spinach and stir until well mixed. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until spinach is wilted. Serve immediately with additional red pepper flakes and parsley, if desired.
3 cups fresh baby spinach, Fresh flat-leaf parsley

Video

Notes

Storage: The pasta will absorb liquid as it sits, so it’s best enjoyed within 2 days. To store, seal in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Avoid soggy pasta: For longer storage, cook the pasta separately and reduce the broth by 2 cups. When reheating, just stir in the pre-cooked pasta to keep the soup fresh and flavorful! Avoid freezing as the pasta will not thaw well.
Acini de pepe: If you can't find acini de pepe pasta, you can substitute with orzo pasta or pearl couscous.
Breadcrumbs: You can also use regular breadcrumbs with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
Ground meat: All ground beef or ground pork, or even ground turkey or turkey sausage can be used.

Nutrition