Italian Wedding Soup

Joshua is always wanting hearty soups. This one does the trick. Especially, since I make the meatballs a little on the large side. We found this recipe in our Taste of Home Casseroles, Slow Cookers, and Soups book. The same book with the famous corn chowder recipe. This soup is great for a crowd, because it makes a large quantity.   

1 egg

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (I used Panko, because they are lower in sodium)

1 small onion, chopped

3/4 teaspoon of salt, divided (obviously, I left this out)

1 1/4teaspoon of pepper, divided

1 1/14 teaspoon of garlic powder, divided

2 pounds of ground beef

2 quarts of chicken broth (I use homemade to lower the sodium)

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 1/4 cup cooked medium pasta shells

In a large bowl combine the egg, cheese, bread crumbs, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder (I used fresh garlic). 

Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls (or make a heartier size)

In a dutch oven, brown meatballs in small batches; drain. 

Add the broth, onion powder, and remaining salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the meatballs; bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. 

Stir in pasta and heat through. 

 The ingredients.

The egg, cheese, bread crumbs, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic. When a recipe calls for onion and garlic I just put them both in the food processor to chop. It makes life much easier. 

Crumble the ground beef over the mixture.

Mix it all together.

Make meatballs and fry them in a dutch oven or large pot. 

Add the broth/stock to the same pot the meatballs were cooked in along with the onion powder, and remaining salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the meatballs; bring to a boil. . 

Add the meatballs to the boiling broth. Heat at a simmer for about 5 minutes.

Add the pasta and heat through. 

 Served with some Parmesan cheese if you so desire. 

The recipe calls for spinach, but I am not a fan. I have tried it over and over again, but I can't make it stick. 

~Stefani =)