Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Italian Wedding Soup

  • 1/2 pound ground turkey or chicken
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder or some chopped fresh onion
  • 7 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups thinly sliced escarole/endive/spinach
  • 1/2 cup cooked orzo pasta
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot

1. Combine meat, egg, herbs, bread crumbs, and parmesan.  Shape into mini meat balls and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, saute carrots (and onions if using) in a little olive oil in pot.  Add broth and bring to a boil.  Add escarole.  Reduce heat and simmer.

3. Cook pasta according to package.  

4. Add meatballs and orzo to broth and simmer 5-10 minutes.  Serve.

To freeze: Do steps 1 and 2.  Can combine and freeze.  Leave pasta uncooked in separate bag.

To cook from frozen:

Heat broth and meatballs to boiling.  In the meantime, cook pasta. For the orzo I used, cook in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes.  Be careful draining - those are tiny little things!  Continue with step 4.