Italian Wedding Soup

Italian wedding soup is a comforting and tasty dish made up of mini meatballs, leafy greens, pasta, vegetables, and a rich chicken broth. Although it is called Italian wedding soup, this dish is not specifically for weddings. It takes its name from the meat and vegetable combination.

Knowing what goes into a traditional Italian wedding soup will help you recreate this tasty dish at home. Choosing fresh ingredients and seasonings will help you recreate the authentic taste.

What Goes Into Italian Wedding Soup?

The best Italian wedding soup recipes use simple ingredients which work well together. Each ingredient provides a different taste or texture to create a hearty soup. Understanding the Italian wedding soup ingredients will help you prepare a delicious homemade meal.

The Key Ingredients Are:

Mini Meatballs – One of the most important ingredients of this soup are the mini meatballs. Traditionally, the meatballs are made using a combination of mince beef and mince pork, but you can use one type of mince.

You will need:

• Mince beef
• Mince pork
• Breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan
• 1 Egg
• Minced Garlic
• Salt & Black Pepper
• Dried Italian Seasoning

Mix the ingredients together gently and form into mini meatballs. Keeping the meatballs small will make the soup easier to eat.

Fresh Vegetables

The vegetables provide natural sweetness, color, and flavor. Common vegetables used to create the aromatic base are carrots, celery, and onions.

Carrots – Provide a subtle sweetness and nice texture.

Celery – Adds a fresh and slightly earthy taste.

Onions – Provide a flavorful base to the soup.

Garlic – Adds a rich aroma and savory taste.

Dice the vegetables into small pieces.

Leafy Greens

The leafy greens provide the iconic look to the Italian wedding soup. Traditionally, escarole is used in an Italian wedding soup, as it has a slight bitterness which balances the meatballs. Spinach and kale are also popular options. Choose baby spinach for a mild taste or escarole for a more traditional taste with a slightly firmer texture.

Chicken Broth

The chicken broth helps to bring all of the ingredients together to create a comforting soup. You can use homemade stock or a good quality shop-bought version. Low sodium chicken broth will create a richer tasting soup. You can control how much salt you add as you will be adding Parmesan cheese and seasonings. You will generally need a good amount of stock to cover the vegetables, meatballs, and pasta.

Small Pasta

Small pasta is perfect as it is easy to eat with a spoon and works well with the meatballs. Common pasta shapes are:

• Acini di pepe
• Orzo
• Ditalini
• Small pastina

Acini di pepe is very popular in Italian wedding soup. The tiny round pasta works well with the other ingredients.

Parmesan Cheese & Seasonings

Adding seasonings will give the soup an authentic Italian taste. Adding Parmesan will give a slightly salty and savory taste. Some great additions are:

• Freshly grated Parmesan
• Salt & Black Pepper
• Dried Oregano
• Italian Seasoning
• Fresh Parsley
• A drizzle of olive oil

Add some Parmesan rind to the stock whilst it cooks for added depth of flavor. Once cooked, remove.

Optional Extra Flavor

Although this is a simple recipe, you can personalize it by adding:

• Lemon juice – Add a little squeeze.
• Red pepper flakes – Add some gentle heat.
• Fresh Thyme – Add an earthy aroma.
• Homemade chicken stock – Add more depth of flavor.
• Extra Parmesan – Add more savory taste to each portion.

How To Make Italian Wedding Soup

Once you have your ingredients, you can easily recreate the Italian wedding soup. Preparing all the Italian wedding soup ingredients before cooking will make the process easier.

Make The Meatballs

Add mince beef, mince pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, and seasonings to a bowl. Mix gently and form into small meatballs.

Cook The Vegetables

Heat some olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened and then add the garlic.

Add The Stock & Meatballs

Add the chicken stock and gently bring to a simmer. Gently add the meatballs and cook.

Add The Pasta & Leafy Greens

Add the small pasta and cook according to the packet instructions. Add the leafy greens towards the end to keep them fresh and tender.

Season & Serve

Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with some fresh parsley and Parmesan.

Top Tips

Using fresh ingredients will make a big difference to your final dish. Choose firm carrots, fresh leafy greens, and good quality mince.

Use freshly grated Parmesan.

Don’t over mix the meatballs mixture to keep them tender.

Add the spinach or escarole towards the end.

Cook the pasta separately if you want to store any leftovers as it will soak up the stock.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Final Thoughts

This tasty Italian wedding soup contains tender meatballs, fresh vegetables, leafy greens, small pasta, and a flavorful chicken broth. The Italian wedding soup ingredients are simple but create a satisfying meal. By choosing quality ingredients, small meatballs, and balancing the seasonings, you can create a comforting homemade soup that your whole family will love.