Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender turkey meatballs, delicate orzo pasta, and fresh spinach, all simmered in a flavorful chicken broth. This classic Italian-American soup combines savory meat, pasta, and greens for a delicious and nourishing meal perfect for family dinners.
- Author: Dana
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Meatballs
- ½ lb ground turkey
- 1 slice of bread, crumbled in a blender
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 Tbsp onion, minced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (for meatballs)
Soup
- 2 Tbsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (for broth)
- 6 cups cold water
- ½ cup Ronzoni® Orzo pasta
- 1½ cups fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a small bowl, combine the ground turkey, crumbled bread, slightly beaten egg, minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon. Mix well to distribute all ingredients evenly.
- Shape the meatballs: Form the mixture into small ½-inch diameter meatballs, ensuring they are roughly uniform in size for even cooking.
- Heat the broth: In a large pot, bring 6 cups of cold water and the remaining 2 tablespoons of chicken-flavored instant bouillon to a rolling boil. For added flavor, you can add a Parmesan rind at this stage.
- Cook meatballs and pasta: Carefully add the shaped meatballs and the orzo pasta to the boiling broth. Allow the soup to cook for about 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and the pasta is tender.
- Add spinach and simmer: Stir in the chopped fresh spinach leaves and let the soup simmer gently for an additional 3 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt and flavors to meld.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy a comforting, homemade Italian classic.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a Parmesan cheese rind to the broth while it simmers.
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or beef as preferred.
- Try different small pasta shapes like acini di pepe, ditalini, or small shells to vary texture and taste.
- This soup freezes well – store in airtight containers for up to 2 months.
- Adjust seasoning and bouillon quantity based on your salt preference.
Keywords: Italian Wedding Soup, turkey meatballs, orzo soup, spinach soup, Italian soup recipe, homemade soup, comfort food