topic Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day! in Recipes

EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:04:38 GMT

EASY ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

2 ribs of celery, chopped ( If the ribs are big, I slit the celery ribs in half and then chop them)

2 large carrots, cut in round disks, then in half so they’re half moon shape

1 large onion, chopped

2 Tblsps of minced garlic, in oil or fresh minced fresh garlic

3 32 ounce containers of Chicken broth (I used 2 lower salt and 1 regular)

½ cup Acini di Pepe pasta or other small pasta like Ditalini, orzo or tiny shells

1 bag 15 oz package of baby spinach or chopped escarole.

1/2 of a 1 pound Bag of Wegmans mini meatballs (found in the frozen aisle)) or other brand mini-meatballs.

Fresh black pepper and if needed some salt. (I didn’t need to add any additional salt, but you might depending on the brand of broth)

Grated Italian cheese for garnish

Add the celery, carrots, onion and garlic and some black pepper along with about 1 ½ Tbls. butter to a Dutch oven. Cook a few minutes until well blended on Med/High heat. Add the broth and cover. Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

Add the uncooked pasta, escarole or spinach and cook another 7 or 8 minutes. Add the meatballs and cook another 3-5 minutes. Taste, season with some black pepper and/or salt if necessary. (I didn't need any extra salt.)

Ladle into bowls and grate some fresh parmesan cheese on top. Nice if served along with Texas garlic toast or grilled cheese sandwiches.

**You could make your own mini-meatballs, but I found that Wegmans brand mini meatballs are delicious, and make this soup quick, easy and delicous.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

Etoile308 — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:27:44 GMT

Sounds so good, especially when there's a n!p in the air. In my neck of the woods Wedding Soup also has some shredded chicken added. I've been known to cheat and buy a large chicken breast from the prepared food section then skin and shred it into the soup.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:32:20 GMT

@Etoile308 Extra shredded chicken makes it even heartier and better. That's why I add the entire bag of mini-meatballs instead of half the bag.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:35:23 GMT

@ciao_bella Thanks! I didn't know you could buy good mini meatballs. Whenever I'm in the middle of making them, I wonder what in the world I was thinking!

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:42:39 GMT

I like to use half chicken broth and half beef broth. Your recipe looks good and easy.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

Carmie — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:54:35 GMT

My family never made wedding soup with pasta. Instead, we beat up raw eggs and slowly drip them into the finished soup at the end.....like egg drop soup.

Gotta always add the parm cheese before serving.

This recipe sound easy. It takes me all day to make it from scratch.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 20:13:47 GMT

@Carmie I know what soup you're talking about. It is basically an Italian egg drop soup referred to as Stracciatella, meaning, chicken broth with grated parm cheese and ribbons of beaten egg and usually spinach in it. My mother made that sometimes and I've made it as well but not that often. My family, mostly my son, enjoy the tiny meatballs as it's more 'stick to the ribs' soup that fills him. The recipe I posted is quick, easy and very good. If I can cut down on spending unnecessary time prepping and still have it taste good, I'm all in, and this is one of those recipes.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 20:25:14 GMT

@PA Mom-mom My exact thoughts about making those teeny, tiny meatballs and, honestly, the Wegmans ones taste better. They're also the perfect size. Here is a picture of the one pound bag.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

Carmie — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 20:38:40 GMT

@ciao_bella the wedding group we make is chicken broth made with a whole chicken, onions and celery, escarole, eggs, and mini meatballs. Parm is sprinkled on the soup by the person eating if they want it.

Different regions of Italy must make it differently.

My paternal grands were from the Venafro region and maternal from Sicily.

My family loves the meatballs too. That is the best part. I often roll three pounds of meat into mini meatballs. I make a lot of soup and freeze it. I leave the eggs out if freezing until just ready to serve.

Yesterday, I was thinking about making some. It's one of only a couple of soups I like.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 22:09:08 GMT

@Carmie I believe you are correct about different regions making foods differently. My grandfather was a single child and from Rome. On the other hand, my grandmother was one of several children and from a small town, Lettomanoppello, located in the Abruzzo region of the central part of Italy. Both grandparents cooked and, even as a small child, I could tell they cooked differently. My grandmother made dishes with sauces, mostly tomato based, yet my grandfather didn't use tomatoes that often in his cooking.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

coffee drinker — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 23:33:01 GMT

If anyone gets Meredith's newsletter, (I received it late last week in my email) she sent 4 or 5 different soup recipes and Italian Wedding Soup was one of them. I've never made it, but will try this one.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

wagirl — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:57:51 GMT

I LOVE this kind of soup and have made it a few times but dang............ I hate making and rolling out those meatballs!! Would love to find tiny ones at my local grocery stores--maybe AMZ has them??!!! I could eat soup every day for a week--- and still want more Only thing is that I don't like adding pasta to the soup to cook it--think it gets too soggy later--I cook the pasta and then add it so my soup when I re- heat it.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:35:31 GMT

@wagirl I agree with you about adding pasta to soup and then having all the broth sucked up by the pasta. That's why in this soup there are 3 quarts of broth (instead of normally 2) and not much pasta. With the extra quart of broth and the smaller amount of pasta in this soup, it leaves plenty of soupy broth, which I love. Cooking the pasta separately is also a good idea because you can add as much or as little pasta as you want.

Funny thing about meatballs. I make regular size meatballs very often and have no issues about it, but making these teeny, tiny meatballs drive me crazy. I'm assuming you don't have a Wegmans near you. I think Trader Joes carry mini meatballs that are supposed to be very good as well. An alternative would be to cut a regular meatball into quarters, maybe that would work.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

wagirl — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:46:45 GMT

@ciao_bella ---I am in WA state so not sure there is a Wegmens here--but there are Trader Joes!! good idea about cutting big meatballs to fit!!

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:02:26 GMT

@wagirl Unfortunately, Wegmans is only on the East coast right now. Maybe one day it will get to the west coast. It's an experience you would LOVE. A totally upscale grocery store with quality foods, specialty bakery, etc.

Yes, Trader Joes does have mini-meatballs and maybe your regular grocery store might have them as well. Wegmans taste as good, if not better than homemade. That's the reason I buy them for soup.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:15:37 GMT

My local grocer carries Simek Mini Meatballs in a 12-ounce bag.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

lynnie61 — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 23:17:31 GMT

@ciao_bella Thank you so much! Busy week here but may try it this weekend. My sister makes great wedding soup but spends a lot of time making it. I'm trying this soon. We love soup with chilly nights coming up.

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

VanSleepy — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 19:16:41 GMT

I've heard of Italian wedding soup, but I've never had it. Sounds good! I will be making this as soon as I eat all the lentil soup in my freezer. Thanks @ciao_bella . (Also I

have always meant to tell you that I can't even count the number of times I have made the taco mac n cheese recipe that you once posted ☺. )

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ciao_bella — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:38:11 GMT

@VanSleepy
@VanSleepy wrote:
I've heard of Italian wedding soup, but I've never had it. Sounds good! I will be making this as soon as I eat all the lentil soup in my freezer. Thanks @ciao_bella . (Also I
have always meant to tell you that I can't even count the number of times I have made the taco mac n cheese recipe that you once posted ☺. )

Enjoy the Italian Wedding soup! If you like soup, this is a good one! As for the Taco Mac & Cheese, another quick, easy and tasty meal that can stretch a pound of ground beef, and you can throw together in a blink, especially when you're stretched for time and, I might add, energy!!!

Re: EASY Italian Wedding Soup... So Good and Comforting on a Cold/Chilly Day!

ECBG — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 18:55:30 GMT

@ciao_bella

Love the looks of your soup! Many thanks!