Italian Wedding Soup

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The name of this soup actually refers to the "marriage" of flavors inside, which include homemade Italian meatballs, parsley, oregano, and traditional greens like escarole.

Italian Wedding Soup
Photo: Blaine Moats
Prep Time:
35 mins
Slow Cook Time:
6 hrs
Total Time:
6 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
8

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup finely chopped onion (1 large)

  • cup fine dry bread crumbs

  • 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tablespoon snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 ½ pound lean ground beef (93 percent lean)

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 8 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

  • 3 large carrots, chopped

  • 2 tablespoon snipped fresh oregano or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed

  • 1 cup dried acini di pepe pasta

  • 1 small head escarole (8 ounces), trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch strips

  • Fresh oregano sprigs (optional)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl combine eggs, onion, bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Add ground beef; mix well. Shape mixture into forty 1-1/4-inch meatballs. In a large skillet heat oil; brown meatballs, half at a time. Drain on paper towels.

  2. In a 5-to 6-quart slow cooker combine broth, carrots, dried oregano (if using), the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gently add meatballs.

  3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 hours, stirring in fresh oregano (if using), pasta, and escarole during the last 20 minutes of cooking. Ladle into bowls. If desired, garnish with oregano sprigs. Soup will thicken upon standing.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

330 Calories
10g Fat
31g Carbs
28g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 330
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 1024mg 45%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 28g
Vitamin C 7.1mg 36%
Calcium 80.8mg 6%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 308mg 7%
Folate, total 125mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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