Italian wedding soup isn't actually about weddings at all. Rather, the term is a mistranslation of the name in Italian, minestra maritata, which means "married soup." In this case, however, the marriage doesn't refer to people entering into matrimony, but rather the harmonious mixture of the ingredients the soup contains.
Traditional Italian Wedding Soup
Traditional Italian wedding soup contains tasty meatballs in nutritious green veggies, such as escarole. This traditional recipe uses typical ingredients for the soup. The recipe serves eight.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 onion, grated
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes
For the soup:
- 12 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound escarole, chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
For the meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients. Stir until well combined.
- Form into one-inch meatballs and set aside.
For the soup:
- In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil on medium-high heat.
- Add the meatballs and escarole. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are cooked, eight to 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and Parmesan.
- Stirring the soup constantly, use a fork to drizzle the egg and cheese mixture into the soup to form thin ribbons.
- Season with the salt and pepper.
Slow Cooker Variation With Kale and Turkey Meatballs
This recipe is a slightly lighter version of Italian wedding soup, and it includes nutritious and tasty kale. It's low in carbs and calories, and it's gluten and dairy-free, so it's perfect for people on restrictive diets or those who are trying to lose weight. It's also designed for the slow cooker, so it makes a great meal on the go. You can also substitute other greens, such as Swiss chard. The recipe serves eight.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/4 cup almond meal
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
For the soup:
- 12 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound kale, stems removed and chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil
Instructions
For the meatballs:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, almond meal, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, pepper, and egg. Mix well.
- Roll into one-inch balls and set aside.
For the soup:
- In a six-quart slow cooker, combine the chicken broth, kale, carrots, red pepper flakes, sea salt, pepper, and meatballs.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours or high for four hours.
- Stir in the basil just before serving.
Dozens of Variations
With the basic recipes, you can create dozens of variations of this soup. Adding your favorite veggies, herbs, spices, and grains will make a soup your whole family will love.
