Best 5 Italian Wedding Soup Minestra Maritata Recipes

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"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.

Let's cook with our recipes!

MINESTRA MARITATA (ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP)



Minestra Maritata (Italian Wedding Soup) image

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

8 c chicken stock ((we prefer low sodium))
2 garlic cloves, (minced)
1 Tbsp parsley, (dry (or 1/2 bunch fresh, chopped))
1 lb fresh greens* ((spinach, kale, green cabbage))
1 lb meatballs, (thawed if frozen)
4 oz Parmesan cheese (cut into small cubes)
Salt and Pepper ((to taste))

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



Italian Wedding Soup image

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

1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 head escarole (about 1 pound), tough outer leaves removed, roughly chopped
4 ounces ditalini pasta (about 3/4 cup)
Chopped fresh parsley, for topping

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



Minestra Maritata (Italian Wedding Soup) Recipe image

This recipe is called an Italian Wedding Soup, but you'll never find it at an Italian wedding.

Provided by Danette St. Onge

Categories     Dinner     Entree     Lunch     Side Dish     Soup

Time 1h5m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves garlic , peeled and finely minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes
6 cups homemade beef or chicken broth
1 onion, peeled and cut in half
1 carrot , peeled and diced 1/4 inch
1 celery stalk, diced
4 sweet Italian sausages, casing removed and discarded and sausage broken into small, 1-inch pieces
1 bunch broccoli rabe , washed and roughly chopped
1 head escarole or chicory, washed and roughly chopped
1/2 head savoy cabbage, washed and roughly chopped
1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese, freshly grated

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)



Italian Wedding Soup (Minestra Maritata) image

"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

1 roasting chicken, cut into parts (about 3 1/2 pounds)
1 large onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
20 ounces chicken broth (canned or fresh)
2 quarts water
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
1 large onion, diced
4 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 bunch escarole, cleaned and chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 lb pasta, cooked according to package (small pasta, such as acini de pepe or ditalini)
parmesan cheese

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)



Italian Wedding Soup (Zuppa Maritata) image

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

1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley (chopped)
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic (from jar)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 slice fresh white bread (no crust, torn into small pieces)
1/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese (grated)
1/4 lb ground beef
1/4 lb ground pork
black pepper (freshly ground)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups spinach (chopped)
1 egg
2 cups cooked rice or 2 cups barley
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon parmigiano-reggiano cheese (freshly grated, plus extra for garnish)

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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