Ina Garten's Italian Wedding Soup (Back to Basics / Barefoot Con
This is the original out of her Back to Basics Cookbook. There are other versions out there with the ingredients adjusted and redone but this one is the real deal. The difference is that the meatballs are made with ground chicken and chicken sausage not beef or pork. A welcome change from the normal wedding soup. Ina Garten aka the Barefoot Contessa makes this traditional soup in a different yet wonderfully flavorful way. The directions look to be many but they are spread out to make it easier to make. Don't let it intimidate. After the meatballs it is simple. Perfect for those cold days and nights. Enjoy! ChefDLH
INGREDIENTS
NutritionFor the meatballs
- 1⁄4
- 1⁄4lb chicken sausage, with casings removed
- 2⁄3cup fresh white breadcrumbs
- 2
- 3
- 1⁄4cup grated pecorino romano cheese
- 1⁄4
- 3tablespoons milk
- 1extra large egg, lightly beaten
For the soup
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 1
- 1
- 3⁄4
- 10cups chicken stock
- 1⁄2cup dry white wine
- 1
- 1⁄4cup minced fresh dill
- 12ounces Baby Spinach, washed and trimmed
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- For the meatballs, place ground chicken.chicken sausage, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, milk, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 tsp.pepper in a bowl and combine gently with a fork.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. With a teaspoon, drop 1 to 1 1/4-inch meatballs onto the sheet pan. You should have about 40 meatballs.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.
- In the meantime, for the soup, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until softened, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and wine and bring to a boil.
- Add the pasta to the simmering broth and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
- Add the fresh dill and then the meatballs to the soup and simmer for 1 minute. Taste for salt and pepper.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute, until the spinach is just wilted.
- Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with extra grated Parmesan cheese.