I eat a ton of this type of soup but rarely make it at my own kitchen. Not that I am incapable of making the soup….but it is readily available from other local restaurants that I frequent. I have to say my version is better but it is ingredient and labor intensive. Here is my recipe and I use both home made sausage and meatballs in my recipe. You do not find that in the local restaurant. Let’s Make some Sausage and Meatball Italian Wedding Soup…that I derived from my own kitchen.
Soup ingredients
2 cups shredded kale
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup whole wheat orzo pasta
6 cups chicken broth
2ea 15oz cans diced tomatoes, drained – no salt added
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried Oregano
1/2 teaspoon chopped fennel seed
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
Meatballs
1/4 lb lean ground beef
1/8 lb lean ground pork
1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tbsp grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 egg, beaten
pinch grated nutmeg
In mixing bowl place pork and chopped meat
Add all the other ingredients
Mix with hands or spoon until all ingredients and equally incorporated
Form into mini meatballs and set aside for use in the soup preparation section
Sausage Balls
1/8 lb. ground pork sausage
2 pinches red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp chopped fennel seed
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
In mixing bowl place pork and chopped meat
Add all the other ingredients
Mix with hands or spoon until all ingredients and equally incorporated
Form into mini sausage balls and set aside for use in the soup preparation section
Soup Preparation
In a large soup pot on medium-high heat
Add olive oil until smoking
Add sausage balls and meatballs and sauté until lightly browned; transfer cooked pieces to a plate and set aside.
To the same pot add onion, garlic, carrots and celery; sauté until onion is clarified and slightly tender, stirring as needed (3-4 min).
Add orzo; sauté to lightly brown (2-3 min).
Add kale, toss into veggies
Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes (with their juice), basil, oregano, fennel, salt, and pepper.
Bring to low boil; continue boiling until pasta is cooked through (about 10 min)
Add sausage and meatballs back to pot about halfway through boiling process.
Serve warm.
This is a great soup for any occasion. I just like to kick back and have a bowl while listening to my favorite music…. hmmmmm … What is my favorite music?