"Italian Wedding Soup" or "Minestra Maritata" is a classic Italian dish that combines the flavors of meatballs, vegetables, and a flavorful broth. Originating in Southern Italy, this hearty soup has become a beloved dish across the world. Join us as we explore the depths of this culinary delight, delving into its history, variations, and the secrets to achieving that perfect balance of flavors that makes this soup so special.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
MINESTRA MARITATA (ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP)
The perfect marriage of hearty meat and healthy greens, our easy Italian wedding soup recipe is quick and tasty, perfect for a chilly day.Yield: 10 cups
Provided by Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
Categories Soup
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium soup pot, add the chicken stock, garlic, parsley, 1/2 of the fresh greens, and 1/2 of the Parmesan cubes. Heat over medium high heat, stirring often, scraping the bottom of the pot to catch any Parmesan that might get stuck.
- Add the remaining greens and cheese as you have room in the pot. Bring to a simmer.
- Add meatballs and simmer until they are heated through.
- Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Serve with crusty bread and extra, fresh grated, Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 267 kcal, Carbohydrate 23.5 g, Protein 18.3 g, Fat 12.5 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Sodium 900 mg, Fiber 3.9 g, Sugar 3.5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
Named not for the marriage ceremony, wedding soup gets its name from the Italian "minestra maritata" - married soup - for how well the ingredients go together. Traditional versions, of which there are many, are typically heartier and meatier than most American styles. We lightened up our recipe with groud turkey for the meatballs instead of the usual beef or pork.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Combine the ground turkey, ricotta, pesto, parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until just combined. Form into 24 small meatballs (about 1 tablespoon each); transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Broil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, 2 cups water, the escarole and ditalini. Cover and bring to a boil, then partially uncover and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Add the meatballs and simmer, uncovered, until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle each serving with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 520 calorie, Fat 28 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Cholesterol 90 milligrams, Sodium 650 milligrams, Carbohydrate 32 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 39 grams
MINESTRA MARITATA (ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP) RECIPE
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large, deep stockpot, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat until the garlic is just fragrant and very lightly colored, about 1 minute. Add the crushed red pepper and simmer for about 30 seconds.
- Add the broth, onion, carrot, celery and sausage pieces, cover, lower the heat to low and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. (If you happen to have any leftover Parmigiano-Reggiano rinds, these would be a great addition to enrich your broth! Throw them in together with the onion, carrot, and celery.)
- Meanwhile, blanch the chopped greens in abundant salted boiling water, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain well. This eliminates the excess bitterness.
- Remove the onion, carrot, and celery from the broth and discard (discard any cheese rinds at this point also, if you're using them). Transfer the blanched greens into the broth and let simmer for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the greens are tender and the broth is rich and savory.
- Serve with freshly grated cheese sprinkled on top and slices of grilled or toasted crusty bread. A white wine, such as a Fiano or Greco di Tufo, would be a good pairing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1222 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Cholesterol 187 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 67 g, SaturatedFat 35 g, Sodium 3478 mg, Sugar 7 g, Fat 95 g, ServingSize 4-6 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP (MINESTRA MARITATA)
"Minestra Maritata" translates to married soup. The ingredients blend or "marry" well together, hence the name Minestra Maritata. I'm sure that someone not knowledgeable with the Italian language translated it to "Italian Wedding Soup." It is not a soup Italians serve at weddings. In this recipe, the escarole is cooked separately to remove some of the bitterness and to keep the soup from turning green.
Provided by Alan in SW Florida
Categories Whole Chicken
Time 1h30m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place first 6 ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil., then immediately reduce to a simmer and cook until the chicken easily falls off the bones. Remove chicken from the broth and allow to cool. Reserve the broth. When the chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove all of the meat from the bones and chop meat into small pieces.
- While the soup is cooking, make the meatballs. Mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and chopped parsley. Form into small meatballs and place on a baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven until fully cooked, approximately 15 minutes.
- Strain the broth used to cook the chicken. Add the remaining onion, celery, and carrots. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until vegetables are tender.
- Cook the escarole in a separate small pot of boiling salted water until wilted, about 10 minutes. Drain, squeeze dry and add to the broth. Add the cooked chicken, meatballs and cooked, drained pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat well and serve accompanied by Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 282.5, Fat 13, SaturatedFat 4.4, Cholesterol 70.8, Sodium 469.4, Carbohydrate 21.7, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 4.6, Protein 19.1
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP (ZUPPA MARITATA)
This is a super delicious soup. There are many different recipes for this soup that vary a little from each other, but I feel that this is the best one. Try to use Parmesanno-Reggiano Cheese, as it's truly the "King of all Cheeses".
Provided by Alan Leonetti
Categories Pork
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- To make Meatballs:.
- Stir ingredients together in a bowl and blend.
- Using 1/2 teaspoon for each, shape the meatball mixture into little tiny meatballs.
- Place the meatballs onto a large plate or baking sheet and set aside.
- To make the Soup:.
- In a large pot, bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the meatballs and spinach and simmer until the meatballs are cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Add in the rice or barley.
- In a medium size bowl, whisk the egg and cheese to blend.
- Stir the soup in a circular motion as you gradually drizzle the egg and cheese mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin strands of egg, for about 1 minute.
- Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish with Parmesanno-Reggiano cheese if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 409.2, Fat 16.9, SaturatedFat 6.4, Cholesterol 156.2, Sodium 1672.6, Carbohydrate 32.6, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 1.7, Protein 28.6
Tips:
- Make sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
- Don't overcrowd the soup pot, or the meatballs won't cook evenly.
- If you don't have time to make the meatballs, you can use frozen or pre-made meatballs.
- Add the greens to the soup at the end of the cooking time so they don't overcook.
- Serve the soup with grated Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.
Conclusion:
Italian Wedding Soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold day. It's also a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. The combination of flavors in this soup is simply amazing, and it's sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a delicious and easy soup to make, be sure to give Italian Wedding Soup a try.
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