Italian Wedding Soup with Carrots, Orzo and Meatballs
4

Serves 5 to 6

There are endless variations on this soup, but the main elements are meatballs and greens. In our recipe, we make meatballs of ground beef and pork, and we add plenty of fresh herbs and kale for the green component.

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    Ingredients: 
    • Meatballs
    • 1/2 pound ground beef
    • 1/4 pound ground pork
    • 1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
    • 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
    • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
    • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
    • 2 tablespoons chopped oregano
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • pinch of ground nutmeg
    • pinch of paprika
    • Soup
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 3/4 cup chopped white onions
    • 3/4 cup chopped carrots
    • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • Ground black pepper, to taste
    • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
    • 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and halved
    • 1 cup uncooked orzo
    • 2 cups shredded kale
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    Method: 

    For the meatballs, put beef, pork, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, egg, nutmeg, and paprika into a large bowl and use your hands to mix well. Use a teaspoon to measure out meat for even sized meatballs. With damp hands, shape them into 1-inch balls and transfer them to a large plate. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

    For the soup, melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Stir in broth, tomatoes, and 2 cups water. Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat or until soup comes to a boil.

    Add meatballs and orzo to the boiling soup and stir to make sure they are fully submerged. Cover and simmer for another 15 minutes over medium heat. Stir in kale. Test a meatball and a piece of orzo to ensure that they are fully cooked. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.

    Nutritional Info: 
    Per Serving:460 calories (160 from fat), 18g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 100mg cholesterol, 860mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (5g dietary fiber, 8g sugar), 24g protein
    Special Diets: 

    Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.

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