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  • Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs

    2 votes
    Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs
    Prep: 25 min Cook: 18 min Servings: 6
    by Salad Foodie
    406 recipes
    >
    Italian-American in origin, this soup was really misnamed. “Wedding soup” is a mistranslation of the Italian language for 'minestra maritata', a reference to the fact that greens and meat go well together. (Well that’s a good marriage isn’t it?) I looked at several recipes of this popular soup, selected aspects of a few, added some of my own, and really liked the results! There are subtle layers of flavor going on here: the aromatic broth with its mirepoix of carrots, celery and onions. Then the meatballs ~ these babies take your food palate to a delightful level!

    Ingredients

    • MEATBALLS:
    • 10 ounces ground turkey
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1/8 cup snipped fresh parsley
    • 1/2 egg, slightly beaten (beat an egg and save half for another use. Or just double the recipe and don’t fool with that!)
    • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoned bread crumbs (I substituted regular bread crumbs with a small pinch each of Italian seasoning and garlic powder)
    • 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1/4 teaspoon sage
    • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • 1/8 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
    • SOUP BASE:
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/4 cup onions, finally diced
    • 1/2 cup carrots, finally diced
    • 1/3 cup celery, finely diced
    • 6 cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
    • 1/2 cup orzo pasta, dry (or acini de pepe, or other small size pasta that cooks in about 8 minutes)
    • 2 cups fresh spinach, thinly sliced with stems trimmed
    • Extra Parmesan cheese fresh shaved for garnish

    Directions

    1. Place ground turkey, garlic, parsley, egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, sage, salt, pepper and fennel seed in mixing bowl and combine well. Form into about 36 meatballs 3/4" diameter. (Don't be daunted by rolling such tiny balls; it takes only about 5 minutes and all the while you can daydream about how delicious they all will be!)
    2. Heat olive oil in 4 1/2 quart soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots and celery and cook until softened about 5 minutes, stirring.
    3. Add chicken stock to vegetables and bring to a boil. Add meatballs carefully, reduce heat to maintain a slow boil, and cook 3 minutes.
    4. Add pasta and continue cooking for 7 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
    5. Add spinach and cook 1 minute more just to wilt.
    6. Serve in individual bowls and pass extra shaved Parmesan cheese for garnish.
    7. Yield: 4 main dish servings, or 6-8 small bowls.

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    Comments

    • ShaleeDP
      ShaleeDP
      Looks like an awesome soup to make. I will give this a try soon.
      • Chef Wannabee
        Chef Wannabee
        This soup was so yummy! I loved, loved, loved, the meatballs... an excellent all around anytime soup - not just for weddings - try it, you'll keep coming back for more, so it would not be a bad idea to make that double batch.

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