Italian Wedding Soup

Here’s a simple and hearty recipe for Italian Wedding Soup, a comforting dish with flavorful meatballs, tender greens, and a savory broth. This version is easy to make at home and perfect for a cozy meal.

Ingredients:

Meatball Mix

• • 1 1/4 lbs mixed ground pork and beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

Soup

• • 1 medium sweet onion, finely diced
  • 2 large carrots, finely diced
  • 2 stalks of celery, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup acini di pepe pasta
  • 4–5 oz baby spinach
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

• • Begin with the meatballs.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, ground beef, breadcrumbs, dried parsley, basil, oregano, egg, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Shape this mix into 3/4-inch meatballs.
  • Heat up the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add these meatballs and let them sizzle to perfection.
  • Browning the meatballs to the flavor and the perfect texture.
  • Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.
  • In the same skillet, maintain the medium heat, and add the finely diced onions, carrots, and celery.
  • Saute these until they become tender and fragrant, which should take about 7-10 minutes.
  • Stir in the minced garlic, dried parsley, basil, and oregano, cooking for an additional minute.
  • Now, transfer these cooked vegetables to a sturdy stockpot or Dutch oven.
  • Pour in the chicken broth, and bring it to a gentle boil.
  • It’s time to introduce the acini di pepe pasta and the beautifully browned meatballs.
  • Let them simmer together for approximately 15 minutes, or until the pasta reaches its desired tenderness.
  • Just before serving, add the baby spinach to the mix.
  • Stir the soup until the spinach wilts.
  • Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

If you want a specific variation (e.g., vegetarian, spicier, or with different greens), let me know in the comments, and I can tweak the recipe!

Enjoy your warm, soul-soothing Italian Wedding Soup.