Easy Italian Wedding Soup #SundaySupper

When it comes to meal time, do you sit at the table or stand and graze? For the longest time, I’ve been a grazer. Heck, when you’re single, what’s to stop you from foregoing a plate entirely and noshing straight out of the pan? So bad, I know. What’s worse, I eventually turned Morgan into a grazer, even though he preferred a sit down meal. And he’s not the only one to adopt my lazy ways. Then last year, I decided to turn that all around. No more eating at the trough. Being a newlywed, it was all part of the “nesting” thing.

When I looked to the Web for inspiration, I stumbled across the Sunday Supper Movement. Perfect! Eventually, when I relaunched this site in July, I became a participating member, and I’m so honored and excited to be here to celebrate Sunday Supper’s one year birthday. This week, I’m bringing to the table an incredible Easy Italian Wedding Soup, inspired by none other than the Sunday Supper Movement founder, Isabel aka Family Foodie.

You might be surprised to learn that Italian Wedding Soup has nothing to do with weddings at all and is, in fact, a mistranslation of sorts. Minestra maritata, literally “married soup,” refers to the combination of meats with greens. In Italian, to say two things go well together, they are said to be married, or maritata. This age-old Neapolitan staple was loaded with lots of meats and greens–much heartier fare than today’s standard Italian-American version. Isabel’s Easy Italian Wedding Soup is quite filling, though, as it’s chock full of mini pork meatballs, but the delicate blend of chicken broth, spinach and a little pasta help keep it light. It’s super easy to prepare, too, and as we work our way through another cold snap here on the Left Coast, I was glad to have a steaming bowl of this soup to keep me warm.

Shall we begin?

First, let’s soak that french bread in the milk. Once it’s all good and soggy, squeeze the milk out (yes, with your bare hands), and put it in a larger mixing bowl for the meatball mixture.

Add the remaining meatball ingredients to this bowl and mix well. You should start with a wooden spoon and finish off mixing with your hands for best results. What can I say? Meatballs are messy business!

Preheat the oven to 375F, and get your pan ready. Scoop (2 teaspoons) the meat mixture and shape into little balls, lining up on the pan about 2 inches apart.

Bake these bad boys for 10-12 minutes or until no longer pink inside. While the meatballs are baking, put the chicken broth in a large stock pot and bring to a boil.

Blend the spinach, eggs, Parmesan cheese and white pepper in a bowl. Then drop by the spoonful into the boiling broth, stirring well after each addition. Reduce the heat and let simmer for a couple of minutes.

Now add the meatballs and Orzo pasta to the soup and let simmer an additional 20 minutes or until the pasta is done.

Serve piping hot with a little Parmesan on top and a crusty loaf on the side. Enjoy!

4.8 from 6 reviews

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

A delicate blend of chicken broth, spinach and pasta, and chock full of mini pork meatballs make this easy Italian wedding soup perfect for a cold winter's day.

Author: Anne Papina

Recipe type: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 10 oz package of chopped frozen spinach, thawed
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp ground white pepper
• 4 quarts low sodium chicken broth
• 8 oz Orzo pasta
• Mini Pork Meatballs (recipe below)
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Drain spinach, squeezing all the water out.
2. Mix spinach, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and white pepper in a bowl.
3. In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Drop spinach mixture by the spoonful into the boiling broth, stirring well after each addition. Lower heat and simmer about two minutes.
4. Add the Orzo pasta and meatballs, and simmer for an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through.

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3.2.1317

4.8 from 6 reviews

Mini Pork Meatballs

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

27 mins

 

These mini pork meatballs are bursting with flavor and the are the perfect addition to Italian wedding soup.

Author: Anne Papina

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 slices french bread
• ½ cup milk
• 1½ lb lean ground pork
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp ground pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup bread crumbs
• 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, soak the bread in the milk until soggy all the way through. With your hands, squeeze the milk out of the bread and place in a large bowl.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon (or better yet, use your hands).
3. Preheat oven to 375F.
4. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Using a small cookie scoop (ie, two teaspoons full), shape the meat mixture into small balls, and line in rows on the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done.

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3.2.1317

We are celebrating this week’s birthday event by choosing recipes from contributors that have inspired us in the past year.  With 52 weeks of inspiration, it was hard to pick just one. Let’s see what others are serving up.

Sunday Supper Appetizers:

• Hot Spinach Parmesan Dip by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks inspired by Comfy Cuisine
• So Simple Pizza Puffs by The Weekend Gourmet inspired by Hip Foodie Mom
• Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pull Apart by Noshing With The Nolands inspired by In the Kitchen with KP

 Sunday Supper Soups and Breads:

• Lasagna Soup by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen inspired by Cravings of a Lunatic
• Easy Italian Wedding Soup by Webicurean inspired by Family Foodie
• Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Soup by Damn Delicious inspired by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
• Honey Butter Dinner Rolls by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts inspired by Chocolate Moosey
• Chicken Noodle Soup by Big Bears Wife inspired by My Catholic Kitchen
• Tomato Florentine Soup by Mama Mommy Mom inspired by The Meltaways
• Chicken Soup with Dumplings by Comfy Cuisine inspired by The Messy Baker
• Coconut Curry Chicken Soup by My Trials in the Kitchen inspired by Damn Delicious

 Sunday Supper Main Dishes: 

• Portuguese Mussels and Shrimp in Chorizo Sauce by Supper for a Steal inspired by Family Foodie
• (GlutenFree) Chicken Bruschetta by The Meltaways inspired by Family Foodie
• Feijoada Portuguese Bean Stew by Kimchi Mom inspired by Family Foodie
• Lentils and Chorizo Stew by Galactosemia in PDX inspired by Vintage Kitchen
• Carnitas Pizza w/ Chipotle-Avocado Crema by girlichef inspired by Damn Delicious
• Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas by Country Girl in the Village  inspired by Webicurean
  
• Drunken Meatballs by Small Wallet Big Appetite inspired by The Foodie Army Wife
• Goat Cheese Rigatoni Alfredo by Magnolia Days inspired by Family Foodie
• Dorie’s Chicken-in-the-Pot by Hip Foodie Mom inspired by Gotta Get Baked
• Pulled Pickled Pork by Juanita’s Cocina inspired by Daily Dish Recipes
• Hoisin Asian Meatballs by Gotta Get Baked inspired by Damn Delicious
• Shrimp-Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes by Daily Dish Recipes inspired by Juanita’s Cocina
• Soy, Orange Juice and Red Wine Marinade by Peanut Butter and Peppers inspired by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Chicken Burger with Curried Cabbage Slaw by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings inspired by Soni’s Food
• Corn and Basil Handpies by Curious Cuisiniere inspired by Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Lightened Up Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken by Cupcakes and Kale Chips inspired by The Meltaways
• Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili by Food Lust People Love inspired by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Bigos by Maroc Mama inspired by From Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Crispy Coconut Chicken Strips with Sweet Chili Sauce by From Fast Food to Fresh Food inspired by Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends
• Pork Loin with Port Shallot Sauce by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen inspired by Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Sweet & Tender Brisket by Daddy Knows Less inspired by Juanita’s Cocina
• Fish Tacos by Cookistry inspired by Little Ferraro Kitchen
• Homemade Harissa by Masala Herb inspired by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Spicy Seoulful Pulled Pork Sandwiches by Family Foodie inspired by Kimchi Mom
• New Orleans Style White Beans & Rice by Catholic Foodie inspired by The Hand that Rocks the Ladle
• Spice Rubbed Chicken Tacos with Tropical Salsa by The Urban Mrs. inspired by Family Foodie
• Mac n Cheese Cups with Pork Shoulder Ragu by Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends inspired by Hip Foodie Mom

Sunday Supper Veggies: 

• Carrots au Gratin by Shockingly Delicious inspired by Juanita’s Cocina
• Skillet Spinach Corn with Edamame, Cilantro & Bacon Bits by The Lovely Pantry inspired by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz

Sunday Supper Desserts and Snacks: 

• Chocolate Brownie Tart by That Skinny Chick Can Bake inspired by Magnolia Days
• Mexican Hot Cocoa Sandwich Cookies by Chocolate Moosey inspired by Juanita’s Cocina
• Cinnamon Apple Chimichangas by La Cocina de Leslie inspired by Juanita’s Cocina
• Apple Pull Apart Bread with Caramel Drizzle by Cravings of a Lunatic inspired by Gotta Get Baked
• Cherry Tart by Happy Baking Days inspired by Vintage Kitchen
• Orange Rolls by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies inspired by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Caramel Apple Bread by The Foodie Army Wife inspired by Fam Friends Food
• Rosettes by Simply Gourmet inspired by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Pumpkin Donut Puffs by Soni’s Food inspired by Daily Dish Recipes
• Chocolate Chip Cut-out Cookies by Basic and Delicious inspired by Chocolate Moosey
• Nutella Shortbread Bars by Kelly Bakes inspired by Baker Street
• Butterscotch Pudding Triple Chip Cookies by Mom’s Test Kitchen inspired by Dinner Dishes and Desserts
• Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream by The Messy Baker Blog inspired by Cravings of a Lunatic
• Angel Cake Sandwiches by Ninja Baker inspired by That Skinny Girl Can Bake 
• Soft Pretzels with Spicy Beer Cheese Sauce by Vintage Kitchen inspired by girlichef 
• Sweet N Spicy Roasted Spiced Nuts by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz inspired by The Foodie Army Wife
• Cheesecake with Fresh Berries by An Appealing Plan inspired by The Messy Baker Blog

 Sunday Supper Breakfast Faves:

• Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Oat Muffins by In the Kitchen with Audrey inspired by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Budget Friendly Breakfast Freezable Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwiches by In The Kitchen with KP inspired by Big Bear’s Wife
• Raspberry Hot Chocolate by My Catholic Kitchen inspired by Momma’s Meals

Sunday Supper Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

What a fun event filled with such good food! I only wish I could actually taste each one. Oh wait! I can. I have the recipes. Time to get cooking…

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.

Tagged as: Eggs, meatballs, parmesan, pasta, soup, Spinach