Description
Hearty Italian Meatball Soup delivers robust flavors from classic Mediterranean ingredients. Savory beef meatballs and tender vegetables make this comforting dish perfect for when you crave authentic Italian comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
Liquid, Seasonings, and Additional Ingredients:
- 6 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
- Grated parmesan cheese for serving
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Craft compact meatballs approximately 1 inch in diameter, positioning them carefully on a clean plate.
- Warm a large pot over medium heat, drizzle olive oil, and gently brown meatballs in batches for 5-7 minutes, creating a golden exterior without fully cooking the center. Transfer browned meatballs to a separate dish.
- Using the same pot, sauté onions, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until vegetables soften. Introduce minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Incorporate broth, diced tomatoes, oregano, and basil, stirring to create a harmonious base. Bring liquid to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Return meatballs to the pot, cover, and allow soup to simmer for 15-20 minutes, enabling flavors to intermingle and meatballs to cook completely.
- Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until achieving al dente texture. During the final 5 minutes, fold in spinach or kale to wilt and integrate.
- Sample and calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve in individual bowls, crowning with freshly grated Parmesan and optional herb garnish.
Notes
- Meat Selection: Choose a mix of ground beef and pork for richer, more complex flavor profiles that enhance the meatball’s overall taste and texture.
- Breadcrumb Trick: Use fresh breadcrumbs instead of store-bought for lighter, more tender meatballs that absorb moisture more effectively.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap traditional breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers to make the recipe suitable for sensitive diets.
- Meal Prep Hack: Prepare meatballs in advance and freeze them uncooked, allowing quick assembly of the soup on busy weeknights with minimal preparation time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg