Hearty Italian Wedding Soup: Adding Vegetables For A Twist

Italian wedding soup is a hearty dish that combines meatballs, vegetables, and pasta in a rich broth. While the soup traditionally includes carrots, celery, and onions, there is room for customisation. You can add more vegetables such as potatoes, green beans, or zucchini, or substitute the greens with kale, escarole, endive, or cabbage. The soup is versatile, allowing for variations in ingredients to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.

Spinach, kale, or escarole

Spinach is a popular choice for Italian wedding soup, as it cooks quickly and adds a touch of freshness to the dish. It is also a good substitute for escarole, as it has a similar texture and flavour. When using spinach, it is best to add it towards the end of the cooking process so that it does not overcook.

Kale is another option that can be used in place of escarole. It is recommended to use flat-leaf kale, such as lacinato kale or Tuscan kale, as it has a better texture for soups. The thick parts of the stems should be removed, as they will not cook through in time.

Escarole is a type of bitter green that is commonly used in Italian wedding soup. It is often sliced thinly and added to the broth along with the pasta. If you are looking for a more authentic Italian wedding soup, escarole is a great choice.

When adding any of these greens to your Italian wedding soup, you can follow the same recipe as you would for escarole. Simply add the greens at the appropriate time, depending on their cooking time, and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Carrots, celery, and onions

To prepare the soup, heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, onions, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened. This usually takes about 6 to 8 minutes. You can then add the chicken broth, beef broth, water, wine, bay leaf, salt, and pepper and bring the mixture to a boil.

For the meatballs, you can combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and onion powder in a bowl and shape them into small balls. These can be browned in a skillet before being added to the soup, which will enhance the flavour and texture.

Once the soup is boiling, add the pasta and cook at a gentle boil until it is al dente. This usually takes about 8 to 10 minutes. Finally, add the spinach and meatballs, and simmer until the spinach is wilted and the meatballs are warmed through.

Italian wedding soup is a hearty and flavourful dish that combines the taste of meatballs, vegetables, and pasta in a rich broth. The addition of carrots, celery, and onions enhances the flavour and colour of the soup, making it a delicious and nutritious meal.

Broth options: chicken, beef, or vegetable

Italian wedding soup is a hearty meal, traditionally made with a rich, long-cooked homemade chicken stock. However, you can use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth as the base for this soup, depending on your preference.

Chicken broth is the most commonly used broth in Italian wedding soup recipes. It provides a rich and hearty base for the soup. The recipe usually calls for regular chicken broth, as the low-sodium variety can make the soup taste bland. If you are using store-bought broth, opt for a high-quality brand to ensure a flavourful soup.

Beef broth is also used in Italian wedding soup, often in combination with chicken broth. It adds depth and richness to the soup's flavour. Like chicken broth, it is recommended to use regular beef broth instead of low-sodium for the best taste.

If you want to make a vegetarian version of Italian wedding soup, you can use vegetable broth as the base. This will give the soup a different flavour profile, but it can still be delicious and satisfying.

When making Italian wedding soup, you can also fortify the broth with wine and lots of vegetables to enhance the flavour and make it more nutritious.

Fresh herbs: parsley and dill

Fresh herbs like parsley and dill can be used to garnish Italian wedding soup. Parsley is a common ingredient in the soup, with some recipes also calling for dill.

Parsley is a versatile herb that can be used in many dishes. It has a bright, fresh flavour and is often used to add colour to a dish. Parsley is commonly added to Italian wedding soup as a garnish, but it can also be chopped and added to the meatball mixture. Parsley pairs well with other herbs, so it can be combined with oregano, basil, or rosemary to create a unique flavour profile.

Dill is another herb that can be used in Italian wedding soup. It has a strong, distinctive flavour and is commonly used in dishes featuring fish or potatoes. Dill is often used as a garnish, adding a fresh flavour to the soup. It can also be added to the meatball mixture to infuse the meatballs with its unique flavour.

When using fresh herbs in Italian wedding soup, it is important to add them at the right time. If added too early, their flavour may be cooked out and lost. Adding them at the end of the cooking process or using them as a garnish ensures their flavours remain bright and distinct.

In addition to parsley and dill, other fresh herbs that can be used in Italian wedding soup include basil, oregano, and rosemary. These herbs can be used individually or in combination to create a variety of flavour profiles.

Orzo or pearl couscous

Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that is also ideal for Italian wedding soup. It is a tiny pasta that cooks quickly, in about 6 minutes, and complements the other ingredients well. You can also use pearl couscous and orzo in place of acini di pepe, the tiny round pasta traditionally used in Italian wedding soup. Acini di pepe is similar in size to pearl couscous and can be hard to find, so orzo or pearl couscous are great substitutes.

If you are using pearl couscous, it is important to note that the soup will continue to absorb broth as it sits. Therefore, it is recommended to have some extra chicken or beef broth on hand to add when reheating if the soup becomes too thick.

Frequently asked questions