Italian Wedding Soup With Turkey Meatballs Recipe (2024)

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maryanne

Lowered a steamer basket into the broth and cooked the pasta. Drained it and set aside with a splash of olive oil to keep from sticking and a sprinkle of dill. Then proceeded w adding the meatballs to the broth and finishing w spinach and lemon. Added the pasta to soup bowls and poured soup over pasta at the table. Fun presentation and keeps pasta from getting soggy in the soup.

RB

Made it exactly as written plus two cans of cannellini beans. Used fresh basil, lemon wedge and fresh Parmesan to finish per the recipe. Delicious.

Carol Holland

My kids called this seaweed soup and loved it when I made it from scratch. Easy version : low salt chicken broth from supermarket, Trader Joe's frozen precooked Italian meatballs halved or quartered, fresh or frozen baby spinach or other greens, pasta, grated Italian cheese. Add lemon, herbs, olive oil if desired. Fast and delicious.

Rose

This was excellent! The lemon made this soup! I do prefer smaller meatballs. Knowing that, I made 30 and next time I will reduce the size and increase the number to 60&/-. For me, the meatballs in wedding soup should be small bites.I highly recommend this soup! Start with a good stock and you’re all set. Mangia!

Monicat

My grandmother made "meatball soup." From what I understand, wedding soup is not so named because it is served at Italian weddings, but because the flavors of stock and bitter greens "marry" well to produce a harmony of flavors. "Minestra Maritata"Grandma's recipe uses mini beef meatballs, dropped raw into the pot of broth and greens on hand - romaine, escarole, kale - usually not spinach.Freeze batches of minis raw on sheet trays and then in zip bags for later use for soup in a flash.

Gwen

Per post by Mitch Weiser:Giada De Laurentis Meat Balls:2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs3 tablespoons whole milk, at room temperature1 large egg, at room temperature1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1/4 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano1/2 pound ground sirloin or ground dark meat turkeyolive oil for frying+ 2 cans cannellini4 garlicred pepper flakesorzo

Stacey

I do not understand why people totally alter the recipe and then give it bad reviews.

Randy

Agree. Silicone mats are OK up to 425-450 degrees but higher heat will do permanent damage to them. Household broilers operate between 550 and 650 degrees. Aluminum foil would be the better option.I find it simpler and faster to saute the meatballs in a skillet until browned, (just shake the pan to brown all over) and then add them to the soup minus the grease.

Elizabeth Cooks

Nearly perfect soup. Our recommendations: make smaller meatballs (size of walnuts with yield of 38-40), cut down broth by 4 cups, add the dill, the lemon's zest AND juice to the soup. We did add the minced onion to the meatballs, and nickel-slices of carrots to the broth before adding the meatballs and spinach. We did use the orzo, but before I serve the leftovers, I'm going to cook up some farfalline and add it. I'd prefer a bit more pasta presence, I think. Fabulous!

Mitch Weiser

Made the Meatballs in the style of Giada De Laurentis from her sarto di riso recipe (the best meatballs IMHO). Used baby spinach and basil. Orzo for the pasta. Added 2 cups cannellini beans, 4 cloves garlic, and red pepper flakes. Came out great! Definitely going to add to the rotation and make again.

James

One of the most delicious things I've cooked in a while. This was perfect. I roasted my chicken bones for half an hour at 450, and it produced the richest, roundest stock I've ever made. After that, the rest kind of took care of itself. Great meal. Oh, one other thing: my son is allergic to eggs, so I used 1/4 C whole milk ricotta to bind the meatballs. Worked just as well.

Mike D in NC

I had some extra time and the ingredients on hand so I started this by sweating two onions, some grated carrot and celery. I added a can of great northern beans, a few handfuls of chopped kale and used some Butterball Turkey Meatballs I had in the freezer. Wow, for so little prep and not a lot of stovetop attention, this was simply out of the park good. A good grate of parmesan cheese on top and some crusty bread and dinner is served (and lunch tomorrow!). A keeper.

MD

Lowered a steamer basket into the broth and cooked the pasta. Drained it and set aside with a splash of olive oil to keep from sticking and a sprinkle of dill. Then proceeded w adding the meatballs to the broth and finishing w spinach and lemon. Added the pasta to soup bowls and poured soup over pasta at the table. Fun presentation and keeps pasta from getting soggy in the soup.

mjan

Great recipe, but making smaller meatballs (1-inch or even smaller) is more in keeping with the soup's history. And a quick saute of the meatballs in a little olive oil will get you a more uniform sear.

Lisa B

Followed the recipe as written but for doubling the spinach and using farfalline pasta. The meatballs were delicious. I plan on making a triple batch of the meatballs and freezing them. An easy weeknight meal.

Gloria R

Easy to make and tasty. I agree with the others, next time I will make the meatballs a bit smaller. I also only used 10 cups of broth which was plenty for four servings.

katya

Sweat down shallots/onion and celery before adding broth. Make small meatballs.

Andy

The meatballs were delicious. Using turkey makes it easier than pork to make them tough, so watch that. But they were delicious. Browning them well and using plenty of garlic, I used some for my picky son to make a meatball grinder w/o telling him they were Turkey. He did not notice at all.I am on a diet, so I swapped the pasta w/ barley. Delicious. No-one said a word. I also added cannellini beans. Results were great. Definitely one I'll make again.

Kasey

Wish I'd made a double batch of meatballs to have some for now & another round later!

Lynne

This will definitely feed more than 4 people unless they have huge appetites- I went the extra step and added 3 stalks of celery and about 6 mini carrots chopped up small. I might try it with a lower sodium chicken broth next time. Used baby kale chopped. I loved it and so did the family.

scrumptious, perfect soul warming simply soup

Would recommend less orzo — it absorbs the broth and if you want leftovers, it continues to absorb till the grains are inflatedLeft the panko out of the meatballs by accident, still worked great. Don’t forgo the lemon zest, it elevates the dish If you add vegetables, add them five minutes after the pastaMake the meatballs significantly smaller than you think too— you don’t want to be cutting into meatballs with a spoon

D Lee

Delicious. Made with homemade broth (see NYT simple chicken broth). And aside from making very small meatballs (always my preference, made ~48) and keeping everything (orzo, meatballs) outside of the soup so that I can assemble and serve as needed, followed the recipe pretty accurately. My crowd loved the meatballs straight out of the oven and has now asked me to make them as appetizers, solo.

socalorie

Surprising how delicious and easy this is ....

Momosaurus

Delicious recipe! I cut the broth to 8 cups and it makes much more sense. Also added veggies. Will make again for sure!

LindaLea

Similar to what my Italian family made except that we used veal instead of turkey and escarole instead of spinach.

broth

8 cups instead of 12

Kal

This soup is curing my allergies. I did add onion to the turkey as it really isn't much extra work to grate up a small, white onion and the flavor it adds is worth the extra minute of effort. I also pan-seared my turkey meatballs but mostly because my broiling drawer is tiny. I think if I made it again I would add some big chunks of ginger to the broth while it is boiling. ALSO, add more pasta than 3/4 cups or decrease the broth. The ratio was off.

CP

Made with ground chicken and was delicious. Added onion, carrots, and celery to the broth.

Chin

This was really good! A lighter alternative to the traditional beef and pork meatballs but still delicious. I added diced carrots and onion. Made the meatballs the night before to save time

natalie

Delicious! I made this as directed, except for two small technique adjustments -- which I recommend. I split the meatballs between two cast iron pans (which wash up and hold up better than aluminum) and I baked rather than broiled (perhaps you also worry about your broiler?). Baked at 450/500 for about 5 min on each side and they browned up nicely. I'll definitely make this again!

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Italian Wedding Soup With Turkey Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for escarole in Italian wedding soup? ›

The escarole in this soup can be replaced with mustard greens, turnip greens, kale, chard, spinach, or cabbage, so feel free to substitute. The meat can be the more traditional ground pork or half ground pork and half ground beef.

What does Italian wedding soup contain? ›

This lovely Italian wedding soup recipe is a combination of homemade meatballs with sliced escarole, carrots, and orzo pasta in a flavorsome broth. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

Why is it called Italian style Wedding Soup? ›

Origin. The term wedding soup comes from a mistranslation of the Italian language phrase minestra maritata ('married soup'). Minestra maritata more directly translates to 'wedded broths'. The marriage of its meats and veggies inside of its broth is the only matrimony relevant in this context.

What's in Campbell's Italian Wedding Soup? ›

CHICKEN BROTH (WATER, CHICKEN STOCK), BEEF MEATBALLS (SOY), ACINI DE PEPE PASTA (WHEAT FLOUR, EGG WHITE), SPINACH, POTATO STARCH, SALT, DRIED ONION, PARMESAN AND CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK), DRIED GARLIC, SPICES, FLAVOUR (CONTAINS CELERY), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, ...

What vegetable is most like escarole? ›

Escarole Substitutes

There are a variety of greens out there that use can be used as a substitute. For salads, blends of arugula, curly endive and radicchio work well. For soups and stews, dandelion greens and young mustard greens will give you a similar flavor and also hold up well to cooking.

How do you take the bitterness out of escarole soup? ›

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

What is the most famous soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

What is the real name of Italian wedding soup? ›

A mistranslation of minestra maritata, a classic Neapolitan soup whose name means “married soup”, the marriage in question doesn't involve a human couple but the “marriage” of various meats and greens.

Is wedding soup actually served at weddings? ›

Upon a quick Google search, you'll learn Italian Wedding Soup is not a soup traditionally served at Italian weddings at all (bummer), but yet another Italian American twist on a classic—Minestra Maritata.

Do they actually serve Italian wedding soup at Italian weddings? ›

Savory and rustic, Italian wedding soup is certainly lovable. Yet, regardless of what the name implies, it's not traditionally served at Italian weddings (despite the rumor that it's an aphrodisiac for newlyweds). Many people eat it during the winter or early springtime, but wedding season is irrelevant here.

Is Italian wedding soup eaten in Italy? ›

Not at all. Today's Italians have never heard of it. The soup originated in Spain as a “marriage” of hearty greens and several kinds of meats. It was brought to Naples after the Spaniards took over rule of Naples in 1501, where it was called minestra maritata, or married soup.

Does Progresso make Italian wedding soup? ›

Progresso Light Italian-Style Wedding canned soup has at least 33% fewer calories per serving than regular ready-to-serve soups*. Indulge in every bite of Italian wedding soup made with pork and turkey meatballs, carrots and spinach in a rich chicken broth.

What is a good substitute for escarole in soup? ›

Escarole Basics

If you can't find escarole, substitute curly endive or kale.

What herb is similar to escarole? ›

Herbs like dandelion greens, parsley, or cilantro can be used as substitutes for escarole. While they may not have the exact same taste profile, they can provide a fresh and vibrant element to your dishes. Dandelion greens, for example, have a slightly bitter taste that can add depth to salads or sautés.

What's the difference romaine and escarole? ›

And yes, as the family name “bitter greens” suggests, escarole is a tad bitter. There's a sharpness that comes with escarole's wide leaves, not quite as much as radicchio, but definitely more than a piece of romaine. At the grocery store, escarole can be easy to miss, since it's a chicory that looks like lettuce.

What is the difference between escarole and spinach? ›

Escarole tastes bitter compared to spinach. Escarole is commonly used in Italian cuisines and when you grill or sauté it, it tastes better. Escarole provides a variety of minerals and vitamins, including vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and fiber.

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