Description
Hearty Italian Meatball Soup delivers classic comfort from Italian kitchens with robust flavors and tender meat. Rich broth and carefully crafted meatballs invite home cooks to savor each warming spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or mix of beef and pork)
- 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken or beef broth
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (85 g) small pasta (ditalini, orzo, or mini shells)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup (30 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Meatball Preparation: Thoroughly combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly integrated, creating a cohesive mixture.
- Searing Meatballs: Craft uniform spheres approximately one inch in diameter and brown them in a heated pot with olive oil, rotating to achieve a golden exterior across all surfaces, then set aside.
- Vegetable Foundation: In the same pot, sauté diced onions, carrots, celery, and garlic until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence, creating a flavor-rich base.
- Liquid Composition: Pour broth, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper into the vegetable mixture, bringing the liquid to a robust boil before reducing to a gentle simmer.
- Meatball Integration: Carefully reintroduce browned meatballs into the simmering broth, allowing them to continue cooking and infuse the liquid with their rich, savory profile.
- Pasta and Greens: Add pasta to cook until al dente, simultaneously ensuring meatballs are thoroughly cooked, then fold in fresh spinach or kale during the final moments of cooking to preserve their vibrant color and nutritional integrity.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the aromatic soup into serving bowls, garnishing generously with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, accompanied by crusty bread or a crisp green salad for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Meatball Mastery: Ensure uniform size and gentle mixing to prevent tough meatballs by using a light touch when combining ingredients.
- Browning Brilliance: Achieve deep flavor by properly searing meatballs, creating a golden crust that locks in moisture and adds rich caramelization.
- Pasta Precision: Add pasta towards the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal al dente texture, preventing mushy noodles.
- Dietary Flexibility: Easily adapt the recipe by substituting ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives, and use gluten-free breadcrumbs and pasta for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg