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ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH MEATBALLS AND SPINACH RECIPE

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Zuppa maritata
Naples - Campania
Preparation - Medium
Prep: 25 min - Cook: 1 hour 20 min - Total: 1 hour 45 min
Yield: Serves 4 - 6

Our version of a traditional recipe. *See also Italian Wedding Soup II, with meatballs, chicken and endive.

INGREDIENTS:

For the meatballs:
  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground veal, pork or turkey
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs (commercial, or grate your own from stale Italian bread)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 T parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 clove garlic, minced (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste
For the soup:
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups spinach, chopped
  • 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • OPTIONAL: Orzo - small grains of pasta shaped like barley.
OO Large soup pot, baking sheet.

METHOD:
  1. COMBINE the ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, minced garlic and salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Mix well with a fork and form into tiny meat balls (shown are about the size of a golf ball, but traditional meatballs are a bit smaller) with your hands.
  2. PLACE meatballs on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes at 350F, until brown. (See ALTERNATE, below)
  3. ABOUT ten minutes before serving, bring the chicken broth to a boil, add the spinach and cook until tender. Add the meatballs and return soup to a simmer. Stir in the Pecorino cheese and serve.
ALTERNATE: you can sauté the meatballs in olive oil until brown and procede with step 3 (above), or bring your chicken stock to a low boil, add the uncooked meatballs, simmer for about 25 minutes, add the spinach, cook until tender, stir in the cheese and serve.