How to make Easy Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup is more about the marriage of flavors than a wedding.

Minestra maritata, or Italian wedding soup as it is better known, is more about the marriage of flavors incorporated in the soup than an actual wedding. It's a robust soup with ground beef, sausage, cheese as well as vegetables and herbs. There are as many interpretations of this soup as there are people making it, and you can add your own twist on this classic recipe for comforting Italian wedding soup.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 lb. Italian sausage
• 1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
• 3 tbsp. parsley (chopped)
• 3 tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (grated)
• 1 1/2 tbsp. oregano
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup diced onions
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 3 tbsp. fresh crushed garlic
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can Italian style stewed tomatoes (28 oz.)
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup barley pearls
• 2 cups shredded Kale or Swiss Chard (center stalks removed)
• Large bowl
• Large plate
• Soup pot

Instructions

1. Combine the first nine ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with your hands.

2. Use a scoop to form 1 inch meatballs and set them aside on the plate. Cover and refrigerate them until your are ready to add them to the soup.

3. Melt the butter in a soup pot on medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper to the melted butter and saute until the onions are translucent, which will take about five minutes.

4. Add the broth, tomatoes and water to the pot and stir.

5. Cover and continue cooking on medium heat until the soup comes to a boil, which will be about 10 minutes.

6. Add the barley pearls or orzo and the meatballs (slowly) and stir. Cover the soup and simmer for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the barely pearls are tender, then add the kale or Swiss chard.

7. Taste the soup and add any necessary salt and/or pepper and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• You can substitute your own meatball recipe in this dish, as well as a variety of greens. Be creative and make the dish your own.

References

• Whole Foods Market: Italian Wedding Soup with Carrots, Orzo and Meatballs

Resources

• Whole Foods Market: Italian Wedding Soup with Carrots, Orzo and Meatballs