A Spin on Italian Wedding Soup
March 22, 2023
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Serves: 8-10
If you are looking for a soup to cosy up to during a rainy day, look no further. This soup is chock full of micro and macro nutrients and it is delicious. There are a few steps due to the homemade meatballs but once that is out of the way you are home free, just a little chopping and dicing to do for your veggies. It will be worth it. I typically bake the meatballs, in the oven for 10-15 minutes on 375 degrees and forget about them.
Ingredients
The meatballs
2 pounds ground turkey
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped basil
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 c olive oil, + more if needed
The Soup
64 ounces chicken stock or bone broth
32 ounces water
1 bunch finely chopped swiss chard
1/2 large parsnip, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 leek, diced
1/4 onion, diced
4 crushed garlic cloves
2 teaspoons Trader Joes Umami seasoning
1 heaping teaspoon Organic Better than Bouillon Chicken , you can add more to taste if you prefer but it is strong
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup dry acini de pepe (optional, can substitute with barley)
1/2 cup parmesan + the rind, or more, if you like!
2/3 of the meatballs you fried or baked earlier!
1/3 cup olive oil
Method
The meatballs
1) Add all of the ingredients under meatballs to a large bowl and mix well.
2) Roll the meat into small 3/4 inch balls
3) You can either bake or fry the meatballs I have done both. Baking is easier but frying is slightly more flavorful.
To bake; Preheat oven to 375 degrees and cook meatballs around 13 minutes. There should be no pink!
4) Set meatballs aside.
The Soup
1) Dice all the veggies and herbs under the soup ingredients, #3-7.
2) Heat up a Dutch oven or large soup pot and cover the bottom with olive oil.
Reserving the chard for last, add your veggies, stirring often.3) After 5-7 minutes add the chard, stirring for 1-2 minutes.
4) Add broth, water, bouillon, umami seasoning and parmesan rind if you have one.
5) Bring soup to a boil and add the acini de pepe. Boil for 4 minutes.
6) Add the meatballs and continue to boil for 2 minutes.
7) Let simmer for a few minutes, add salt and pepper to taste and top with fresh basil and lots of parmesan!
Notes
Soup is very adjustable. If you want more liquid, add water and some bouillon or more chicken broth. If you want to add different vegetables, or more veggies, give it try! Too make this particular soup even healthier substitute acini de pepe with 1 cup of barley!