This Italian wedding ceremony soup is my go-to cozy, one-pot dinner: tender home made mini meatballs, acini di pepe pasta, and child spinach in a savory chicken-and-beef broth. Make it on the range prime, in an Prompt Pot, or in a Sluggish Cooker.

What Is Conventional Italian Wedding ceremony Soup?

Regardless of the title, Italian Wedding ceremony Soup is not particularly served at weddings. The title comes from the Italian phrase “minestra maritata”, which means “married soup,” which refers back to the concord – the “marriage” – between the elements (broth, greens, and meat), to not nuptials.

Traditional variations use pork or veal (typically in tiny meatballs or sausage), leafy greens like escarole, and a transparent hen or mixed-meat broth. Small pasta like acini di pepe is frequent in Italian-American variations, however wasn’t all the time important within the old-country pots.

Make Cozy Italian Wedding ceremony Soup at Dwelling!

My Italian Wedding ceremony Soup retains the genuine spirit (tender meat and leafy greens “married” in a transparent broth) whereas streamlining the method and utilizing available elements.

I make tiny beef-and-pork meatballs from scratch with Parmesan, garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs. Subsequent, I sear them for a deep, roasty taste, then simmer them in a chicken-and-beef broth with a basic soffritto of onion, celery, and carrot (plus somewhat bell pepper for sweetness).

I stir in the acini di pepe (tiny bead-shaped pasta) so each spoonful will get pasta, then wilt in child spinach. You can even use orzo or ditalini pasta as an alternative.

I prefer to serve it the normal means, topped with freshly grated Parmesan, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. It is a one-pot, restaurant-quality soup that comfortably serves 4-6 individuals – good for weeknight dinners or make-ahead entertaining.

Professional tip: Cook dinner the pasta individually if you would like the broth to remain brothy for leftovers and forestall the pasta from getting mushy.

What Pasta Is Utilized in Italian Wedding ceremony Soup?

The normal pasta utilized in Italian Wedding ceremony Soup is acini di pepe, tiny spherical pasta “beads.” Due to their small dimension, they maintain their form in broth and are straightforward to eat with a spoon.

Pasta Swaps for Italian Wedding ceremony Soup

• Tiny Pasta Shapes: Whereas acini di pepe is the basic selection, you can too use orzo, ditalini, or pastina. 
• Couscous is one other nice various – regardless that it is not conventional, it seems just like acini di pepe as a result of each are spherical; simply notice that pearl couscous is often bigger and wishes somewhat additional prepare dinner time.
• Professional tip: In case you plan on leftovers, prepare dinner the pasta individually and add it to every bowl, then ladle scorching soup over prime – this retains the broth from getting overly thick because the pasta absorbs the broth.

Meatballs Elements & Substitutions

• Floor beef + floor pork: This mixture yields probably the most flavorful, juicy meatballs. You can even use all beef or all pork.  Turkey/hen is okay for a lighter model.
• Contemporary breadcrumbs: I exploit these to bind the meatballs and hold them delicate and tender. In case you solely have dried breadcrumbs, use rather less (about ⅓ cup) and soak them in 1-2 tablespoons of milk earlier than mixing. For gluten-free, use GF breadcrumbs.
• Egg, flippantly overwhelmed: I add one to assist the meatballs maintain their form.
• Parmesan cheese: Provides saltiness. You can even use Pecorino Romano or Asiago for a sharper taste.
• Worcestershire sauce: Provides taste; you may skip it or use soy sauce or tamari sauce as an alternative. 
• Seasonings: I exploit dried oregano + paprika, freshly minced garlic, finely chopped parsley, and salt & black pepper. If you haven’t any of these, you should utilize Italian seasoning as an alternative of oregano, garlic powder as an alternative of contemporary garlic, and contemporary basil or dill as an alternative of parsley.

Soup Elements & Substitutions

• Acini di pepe: It is tiny bead-shaped pasta. You should use different small shapes like orzo, ditalini, or pastina. You possibly can even use couscous.
• Veggies: Onion, celery, carrot (soffritto), a little bit of crimson bell pepper, and contemporary minced garlic create a savory-sweet, fragrant soup base with a pop of coloration. I like to recommend preserving the cube small so every little thing cooks evenly.
• Child spinach: I add the greens on the finish so that they keep inexperienced, colourful, and vibrant. You can even use escarole, kale, or Swiss chard if you would like one thing heartier; simply simmer heartier greens for just a few additional minutes.
• Rooster and beef broth: Utilizing each offers the soup a deeper, cozier taste. You should use all hen broth for a lighter model. In case you solely have hen broth, add 1 teaspoon soy sauce or ½ teaspoon Higher Than Bouillon beef for extra depth. Or use vegetable broth (and plant-based meatballs) to maintain it vegetarian.
• Seasonings: I exploit bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and crimson pepper flakes.
• Olive oil: I exploit it to brown the meatballs and sauté the greens. You should use any impartial oil (like avocado or canola), however olive oil provides the perfect taste and richness to the broth.

Serving Concepts

There are such a lot of cozy methods to serve Italian Wedding ceremony Soup! My household loves it the basic means: ladled into heat bowls, topped with grated Parmesan, cracked black pepper, and a slice of garlic bread; my bread machine bread loaf; or garlic butter dinner rolls.

You can even pair the soup with grilled cheese sandwiches like my Pear & Brie Grilled Cheese (savory-sweet flavors go rather well with the broth).

Soup and salad all the time go hand in hand, and I like to recommend serving this Italian Wedding ceremony Soup with the basic Italian salad, my candy potato kale salad, or easy spinach salad with pine nuts.

If you wish to stretch it, stir in a handful of cooked white beans or swap the pasta for cheese tortellini. 

Extra Italian Soups

• Italian Sausage Potato Soup
• Pasta e Fagioli Soup
• Rooster Tortellini Soup
• Sausage White Bean Soup
• Italian Sausage Orzo Soup with Spinach & Mushrooms
• Sausage Tortellini Soup

Make Italian Wedding ceremony Soup (Step-by-Step Photographs & Ideas)

It is a recipe overview. Discover the entire directions + ingredient quantities in the recipe card above (scroll up).

• Make Meatballs: In a mixing bowl, mix the bottom beef and pork with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Combine simply till every little thing is evenly distributed, no extra. Roll scant 1-inch meatballs and set them on a tray; chill 15-20 minutes to assist them maintain their form. (Tip: Rolling them small and even helps them prepare dinner shortly and keep tender.)
• Brown Meatballs: Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a big pot over medium warmth. Brown the chilled meatballs in uncrowded batches, turning till golden, about 2 minutes per aspect. Switch to a plate and repeat with the remaining meatballs. (Ideas: Do not crowd the pot – crowding steams as an alternative of browns. Chilling first improves browning and reduces breakage.)

• Make Soup Base: In the identical pot, sauté onion, celery, carrot, and bell pepper with a pinch of salt for about 5 minutes till softened. Stir in garlic and prepare dinner 30-60 seconds till aromatic. Pour in hen and beef broths, scraping up the browned bits. Add bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and crimson pepper flakes.
• Cook dinner Meatballs: Return the meatballs and any juices to the pot and simmer 10-12 minutes till the meatballs are cooked by and tender.

• Add Pasta: Stir in acini di pepe and prepare dinner 6-7 minutes, stirring so it would not stick. (Ideas: Planning leftovers? Cook dinner the pasta individually and add to bowls earlier than ladling the soup – this retains the broth from thickening as pasta absorbs liquid – until you WANT a thicker broth.)
• Add Spinach: Take away the bay leaf and fold within the spinach till simply wilted, 1-2 minutes. (Tip: Add hearty greens earlier – kale or Swiss chard will want just a few additional minutes.)

• Serve: Ladle into heat bowls and end with parsley and loads of grated Parmesan. (Tip: A squeeze of lemon or a drizzle of olive oil proper earlier than serving provides taste!)