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Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup 


Italian Wedding Soup is a staple in Italian restaurants and diners.     It is a soup that marries green vegetables with meat.      The simmering of the vegetables and meatballs, the soup's flavors combine to create a rich, delicious soup.    Growing up, this was my siblings and my favorite soup.   It always brings back great memories of my family, especially my grandmother.   


Ingredients: 


Meatballs

½ pound of ground beef 

½ pound of ground pork

⅓ cup of seasoned bread crumbs

¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese 

1 egg

Soup

¼ cup of finely diced onions

1 large finely diced carrots

1 teaspoon of finely diced garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

8 cups of chicken stock

¾ cup of orzo pasta

2 cups of spinach, kale or broccoli rabe

Directions:

For the Meatballs

  1. In a bowl, mix all ingredients.    I use my hands to help prevent overmixing.    

  2. Roll meatballs into small round balls about the size of a tablespoon.       

  3. Fry meatballs in a dry frying pan.   This will take about 4 minutes per batch.    OR  Bake them in the oven (350 degrees for 25 minutes).


For the Soup

  1. Sauté onions and carrots in the meatball pan or another pan with a tablespoon of oil.   At the end of the sauté process, add the garlic, salt, and pepper to cook.    This will take about 1 minute.  

  2. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil.    

  3. Reduce to a simmer and add the meatballs.    Cook meatballs until they rise to the surface.   This will take about 2-3 minutes.      

  4. Pour in the pasta and simmer for 9-10 minutes until the pasta is cooked. 

  5. Place chopped spinach (kale or broccoli rabe) into the pot and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.     


~ Savings ~

Cost Breakdown:


  • Meatballs

1 pound of ground beef/ground pork: $6.99

  • ⅓ cup of seasoned bread crumbs: $0.30

  • ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese: $0.33

  • 1 egg: $0.46

Total Cost: $8.08

  • Soup

  • ¼ cup of finely diced onions: $0.13

  • 1 large finely diced carrots: $0.25

  • 1 teaspoon of finely diced garlic: $0.10

  • Salt and Pepper to taste: $0.03

  • 8 cups of chicken stock: $3.00

  • ¾ cup of orzo pasta: $1.00

  • 2 cups of spinach, kale or broccoli rabe: $1.40

Total Cost: $5.91


Servings: 8

Total Recipe Cost = $13.99

Cost per cup = $1.75


What is your favorite Soup Recipe?


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