Description
Despite its romantic-sounding name, Italian Wedding Soup has little to do with actual weddings. The “wedding” part is a translation quirk. The original Italian phrase is minestra maritata, which means “married soup.” The marriage refers not to bride and groom, but to the harmonious pairing of meat and greens.
Ingredients
For the Mini Meatballs:
- 250 g ground beef
- 250 g ground pork (or use all beef)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Soup:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 litres chicken broth (or mix with beef broth)
- ¾ cup acini di pepe or other small pasta
- 2 cups baby spinach or chopped escarole
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: squeeze of lemon juice for brightness
- Garnish: grated Parmesan & fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Make the Mini Meatballs
In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients. Roll into ¾-inch balls and place on a tray. Chill for 10 minutes to firm up.
2. Sauté the Base
In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
3. Simmer the Soup
Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Gently drop in meatballs. Simmer for 10–12 minutes until cooked through.
4. Add Pasta & Greens
Stir in pasta and cook until al dente (about 10 minutes). Add spinach or escarole and simmer for 2 minutes until wilted.
5. Finish & Serve
Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon juice. Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
For a heartier version, add small pasta shapes like acini di pepe or orzo to the broth. Freshly grated Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon juice at serving bring out the flavors even more. This soup also freezes well, so you can make a big batch and enjoy it later.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Italian soup with meatballs, Traditional Italian soup, Wedding soup recipe