In the realm of hearty and comforting soups, Italian wedding soup reigns supreme. This classic Italian-American dish is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, featuring tender meatballs, delicate vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth. Our venison meatball version adds a unique twist to this beloved soup, offering a leaner and more flavorful alternative to traditional beef or pork meatballs. Alongside this main recipe, you'll also discover variations for making classic beef or turkey meatballs, providing options for every taste preference. Additionally, we've included a vegetarian meatball recipe for those seeking a plant-based option. Each meatball recipe is carefully crafted to complement the savory broth and wholesome vegetables, ensuring a delightful and satisfying experience with every spoonful. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a culinary novice, these recipes will guide you through the process of creating a delicious and comforting Italian wedding soup that will warm your heart and tantalize your taste buds.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
Tender meatballs, veggies, and pasta in a rich and flavorful broth, Italian wedding soup is a meal unto itself.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 1h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set an oven-proof roasting rack over top. Spray the rack generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg with the chives, sage and garlic. Add the remaining meatball ingredients and mash with your hands until evenly combined. Roll the mixture into tablespoon-size balls, about 1 inch in diameter (it will make approximately 50 meatballs), and place on the prepared rack. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, start the soup. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken broth, beef broth, water, wine, bay leaf, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, uncovered, at a gentle boil until the pasta is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes (or according to package directions). Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Reduce the heat to low and add the spinach and meatballs. Simmer for a few minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the meatballs are warmed through. Ladle into bowls and serve with grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months but wait until you reheat the soup to add the pasta. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until simmering, add the pasta, and cook until the pasta is tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 359, Fat 22 g, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 23 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sugar 5 g, Fiber 2 g, Sodium 930 mg, Cholesterol 83 mg
THE BEST ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
We tried all-sausage meatballs but found them heavy and dense - adding ground pork keeps them light but still extremely flavorful. Wilting the escarole at the end adds a texture and freshness that you won't get from spinach or a less-sturdy green. If you really want to up the umami factor you can always toss a Parmesan rind into the broth as it simmers, but we didn't miss it when made without.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 3h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Combine the thyme, bay, oregano and peppercorns in a 10-inch square of cheesecloth and bring the corners together to create a parcel. Tie it closed with kitchen twine.
- Stir the panko, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Stir in the cream, egg and half the grated garlic until completely combined.
- Combine the ground pork and sausage in a large bowl. Pull the ground meat apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and incorporating the meat without compacting it until thoroughly mixed and no clumps remain.
- Add the breadcrumb mixture to the meat and use the same pulling technique to mix until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Scoop out portions of the meat mixture with a 1-ounce ice cream scoop (or use two heaping tablespoons). Roll the meat gently between your hands into balls. Arrange the balls on a rimmed baking sheet. You should have about 24 meatballs.
- Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half the meatballs and cook, turning and rolling occasionally, until they are lightly browned on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Remove to a plate; the meatballs will not be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Repeat with the remaining meatballs.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the chicken skin-side down. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken and add the onions, carrots, celery, remaining grated garlic. Season the chicken and vegetables with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up the browned bits, until the vegetables have softened slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and cook until it's almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add 8 cups water and the cheesecloth parcel and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and let cool slightly. Shred the chicken with two forks, discarding the skin and bones.
- Meanwhile, add the meatballs and pasta to the broth and simmer until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the sachet. Stir in the escarole and shredded chicken and continue cooking until the escarole is wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Serve topped with parsley and grated Parmesan.
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
Ina Garten uses chicken meatballs and vegetables in her version of classic Italian Wedding Soup, from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories appetizer
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- For the meatballs, place the ground chicken, sausage, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, Pecorino, Parmesan, milk, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl and combine gently with a fork. With a teaspoon, drop 1 to 1 1/4-inch meatballs onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. (You should have about 40 meatballs. They don't have to be perfectly round.) Bake for 30 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.
- In the meantime, for the soup, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until softened, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and wine and bring to a boil. Add the pasta to the simmering broth and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Add the fresh dill and then the meatballs to the soup and simmer for 1 minute. Taste for salt and pepper. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute, until the spinach is just wilted. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with extra grated Parmesan.
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH MEATBALLS
This soup is just wonderful. It's so filling and chock-full of veggies. I first simmered up a batch of this soup when it was featured in our local newspaper, the Palm Beach Post Times. You can also substitute chicken sausage, rolled up into little balls, for the meatballs here.-Amy McGowen, Jupiter, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 1h10m
Yield 7 servings (1-3/4 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the egg white, bread crumbs and Italian seasoning. Crumble pork over mixture and mix well. Shape into 3/4-in. balls. , Place meatballs on a greased rack in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until a thermometer reads 160°, 15-18 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, saute the carrots, celery, parsnip and onion in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, herbes de Provence, pepper flakes and pepper. , Drain meatballs on paper towels. Bring soup to a boil; add meatballs. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Add orzo; cook until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes longer. Add spinach; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley. , Freeze option: Do not add orzo or spinach. Cool soup; transfer to freezer containers and freeze up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer to a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add orzo, then proceed with recipe as directed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 281 calories, Fat 10g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 615mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP I
Coming from Rhode Island, a very ethnic state, this soup was traditionally served at Italian weddings. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
Provided by Star Pooley
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In medium bowl, combine meat, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, basil and onion powder; shape into 3/4 inch balls.
- In large saucepan, heat broth to boiling; stir in escarole, orzo pasta, chopped carrot and meatballs. Return to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook at slow boil for 10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.3 g, Cholesterol 86.8 mg, Fat 14.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 27.3 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 1211 mg, Sugar 4 g
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS
Classic Italian wedding soup is beloved for its simplicity and satisfaction. This turkey version is lean, while meatballs stay moist by simmering in broth. Start with the most flavorful broth you can get your hands on (homemade is ideal, but store-bought works well too), then pack the meatballs with flavor (garlic and parsley) and staying power (egg, panko and cheese, to gently bind them together). Traditionalists may be tempted to add a small grated onion to the meat mixture, and sweat celery and carrots into the broth, but for a quick weeknight meal, you won't miss them here. If speed is your game, roll the mixture into 12 large meatballs-or opt for 20 smaller ones if serving kids (mini meatballs will cook through even faster). Either way, finish with a healthy dose of olive oil, lemon, cheese and dill, or any fresh Italian herb you may have on hand.
Provided by Sarah Copeland
Categories dinner, easy, quick, weeknight, soups and stews, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine the chicken broth and 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, add the turkey, panko, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup Parmesan to a large bowl. Mix with a fork or clean hands until combined. Gently roll the mixture into 12 medium (2-inch) or 20 small (1 1/2-inch) meatballs and transfer to a baking sheet lined with lightly oiled aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat.
- Heat the broiler to high and set an oven rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat. Broil the meatballs until brown on two sides, turning halfway through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Add the pasta to the boiling broth and cook over medium until al dente, then lower the heat to a low simmer.
- Add the meatballs to the broth and simmer on low until completely warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, and add the spinach and lemon zest, stirring well, to wilt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Divide the soup among four bowls. Drizzle each with olive oil, sprinkle with more Parmesan and squeeze a bit of lemon over the top. Scatter the dill over the top, or stir in.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 669, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 49 grams, Fat 29 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 51 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 1797 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips for Making the Best Italian Wedding Soup with Venison Meatballs:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This is especially important for the venison meatballs, as the flavor of the meat will shine through. Look for venison that is ground fresh and has a good amount of fat content.
- Don't overmix the venison meatballs. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough, so be gentle when combining the ingredients.
- Brown the venison meatballs thoroughly. This will help to develop their flavor and prevent them from falling apart in the soup.
- Use a good quality chicken broth. The broth is the base of the soup, so it's important to use one that is flavorful and has a rich body.
- Add the vegetables and pasta to the soup in stages. This will help to prevent the vegetables from becoming overcooked and the pasta from getting mushy.
- Season the soup to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste, until the soup is flavorful and balanced.
- Serve the soup immediately, while it's still hot. Italian wedding soup is best enjoyed fresh, so serve it as soon as it's made.
Conclusion:
Italian wedding soup with venison meatballs is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. The venison meatballs are flavorful and juicy, and the soup is packed with vegetables and pasta. This soup is sure to please everyone at your table, and it's also a great way to use up any leftover venison. So next time you're looking for a comforting and delicious soup, give this Italian wedding soup with venison meatballs a try.
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