Warehouse Wedding Soup: Spaghetti-Style, Homemade, Hearty

Spaghetti Warehouse is a family-friendly Italian restaurant chain that has been serving homemade pasta and other classic dishes since 1972. Their wedding soup is a spin on traditional Italian wedding soup, which typically includes beef, chicken, vegetables, and noodles. The Spaghetti Warehouse version includes all of these ingredients and a few extra surprises.

To make Spaghetti Warehouse Wedding Soup, you'll need the following ingredients: water or chicken broth, chicken bouillon powder, celery, carrots, onion, fresh spinach, basil, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, chicken breast, frozen meatballs, and fideo pasta.

The first step is to cook the fideo pasta according to the package directions. Drain it and set it aside. In a large pot, bring the water or chicken broth to a boil. Stir in the bouillon powder until well combined. Add the celery, carrots, onion, spinach, and seasonings, and cook until the vegetables are tender. Finally, stir in the chicken, meatballs, and pasta, and cook until everything is warmed through. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve with garlic bread or a salad.

Meatballs: Combine ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, and onion powder

To make the meatballs for your wedding soup, you'll need to combine ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, and onion powder. Start by adding the egg to a large bowl and mixing in any herbs and spices you want to include. For wedding soup, fresh chives, sage, and garlic are a great combination. Next, add in your ground beef, followed by the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, and onion powder. Mix everything together thoroughly with your hands until it's all evenly combined.

Once your mixture is ready, it's time to shape it into meatballs. Roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and greased with nonstick cooking spray. You should get around 50 meatballs from the mixture.

Bake your meatballs in the oven at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and cooked through. Set them aside to cool while you start preparing the soup.

Making your own meatballs allows you to control the ingredients and ensure they are cooked to your liking. It's a great way to add extra flavor to your wedding soup and make it a truly special dish.

Broth: Use chicken broth

To make a broth for wedding soup, you can use chicken broth. Broth is made from meat and vegetables, while stock is made from bones. Chicken broth will provide a rich and hearty base for your wedding soup.

If you are making your own chicken broth, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients

Gather your ingredients, which may include chicken, vegetables (such as carrots, celery, and onions), and herbs and spices (such as garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns). You can also add other ingredients like apple cider vinegar, which can help draw nutrients out of the bones and into the broth.

Step 2: Cut the chicken and vegetables into small pieces

Cutting the chicken and vegetables into small pieces will help to maximise the surface area, which will result in a more flavourful broth.

Step 3: Place the ingredients in a large pot

Place the chicken, vegetables, and any other ingredients in a large pot. Add enough water to cover the ingredients by a few inches.

Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer.

Step 5: Simmer the broth

Simmer the broth for several hours. The longer you simmer it, the more flavourful it will be. Occassionally skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.

Step 6: Strain the broth

Once the broth has finished simmering, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Let the broth cool slightly before straining to make it easier to handle.

Step 7: Cool and store the broth

Let the broth cool to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. You can store the broth in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags. It will last for about a week in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer.

Tips for making chicken broth:

• Use a variety of vegetables and herbs to add depth of flavour to your broth.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of chicken, such as a whole chicken, chicken bones, or chicken feet.
• You can also make broth in a slow cooker or pressure cooker, which can be more convenient and hands-off.

Vegetables: Escarole, spinach, and carrots

Vegetables are an essential part of Spaghetti Warehouse Wedding Soup, adding colour, texture, and nutrition to the dish. Here is a detailed guide to preparing the vegetables for this delicious soup:

Escarole: Escarole is a broad-leafed, less bitter form of endive, also known as zuppa di scarola. It is commonly used in Italian Wedding Soup and adds a subtle bitterness to the broth. To prepare, wash the escarole leaves and slice them thinly. You will need about 2 cups of thinly sliced escarole for the soup. If escarole is unavailable, you can substitute it with spinach, chard, or kale.

Spinach: Fresh spinach is preferred over frozen for its colour and texture. Wash and chop 1 cup of fresh spinach. If using frozen spinach, allow it to thaw and pat it dry before adding to the soup. Spinach cooks quickly, so add it towards the end of the cooking process to retain its colour and freshness.

Carrots: Carrots add a pop of colour and a sweet flavour to the soup. You will need about 1 to 1 1/4 cups of diced carrots. Peel and wash the carrots, then dice them into small, uniform pieces. Carrots are usually added to the soup along with other vegetables like celery and onions.

Preparing these vegetables is a simple process and forms the base of the Spaghetti Warehouse Wedding Soup. By following these steps, you will be able to create a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for any occasion.

Pasta: Use orzo

Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that works well in Italian Wedding Soup. It is a versatile pasta that can be used in soups, salads, and grain bowls. The pasta is typically added towards the end of cooking so that it doesn't become overcooked or mushy.

To cook orzo, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook for around 7-10 minutes, or until your desired tenderness is reached. If you are using orzo in a salad, it is best to drizzle olive oil over the pasta and fluff it while it is still hot to prevent clumping.

Orzo is made from semolina, a coarser, often golden-colored flour that comes from durum wheat and has a high gluten content. It is also known as risi or rosini in Italy, kritharaki in Greece, and piñones in Spain.

Orzo is a great choice for Italian Wedding Soup as it is small in size and can be cooked quickly. It adds texture and heartiness to the soup without overwhelming the other flavors.

Flavour enhancers: Hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard powder

To enhance the flavour of your Spaghetti Warehouse wedding soup, you can add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard powder.

Hot sauce is a great way to add heat to your soup without changing its flavour profile. You can use chillies such as cayenne, chile de arbol, Thai bird, or African bird chillies, which bring heat without a strong flavour. Alternatively, you can use habanero or cayenne pepper seeds, which contain high levels of capsaicin, the compound that gives chillies their heat.

Worcestershire sauce is a fermented condiment made from vinegar, anchovies, molasses, tamarind, onion, garlic, and other seasonings. It has a distinct, complex flavour that is tangy, savoury, sweet, and salty. It is an excellent way to add umami to your soup.

Mustard powder is a versatile spice made from ground mustard seeds. It has a tangy, sharp, and fiery flavour that can enhance the taste of your soup without overwhelming it. Mustard powder is also a healthy option, offering anti-inflammatory, digestive, and other medicinal benefits.

When adding these flavour enhancers to your soup, start with a small amount and gradually increase until you reach your desired taste profile.

Frequently asked questions