Hearty Italian Comfort Soup Recipe: A Bowlful of Warmth

Comfort beckons with every spoonful of this hearty Italian comfort soup delight that warms you from the inside out.

Rich aromas fill the kitchen, promising a soul-soothing experience.

Generations have cherished this recipe, passing down its delectable secrets through time.

Tender vegetables mingle with savory herbs, creating a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.

Each ingredient tells a story of traditional Italian culinary wisdom.

The soup simmers with love, inviting you to savor its deep, nurturing essence.

Dive into this culinary embrace that connects you to the heart of Italian home cooking.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 7

Ingredients for Italian Comfort Soup

• Ground Beef: Select lean beef for a lighter texture that holds together beautifully in the soup.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, salty depth and helps bind the meatballs with incredible flavor.
• Breadcrumbs: Creates tender meatballs and helps absorb moisture for perfect consistency.
• Egg: Acts as a natural binding agent to keep meatballs compact and moist.
• Garlic: Brings intense aromatic warmth and classic Italian essence to the meatball base.
• Parsley: Introduces fresh herbal notes and bright green color to the meat mixture.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Enhances overall seasoning and balances the meat's natural flavors.

• Olive Oil: Provides a smooth cooking foundation with subtle Mediterranean undertones.
• Onion, Carrots, Celery: Classic mirepoix combination creating a robust, hearty vegetable backdrop.
• Chicken Broth: Delivers rich, comforting liquid base with deep savory undertones.

• Pasta: Choose small shapes like orzo or stelline that nestle perfectly with meatballs.
• Spinach or Greens: Adds nutritional boost, vibrant color, and fresh earthy flavor to the soup.

Tools for Making Italian Comfort Soup

• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining meatball ingredients and mixing thoroughly.
• Baking Sheet: Helps arrange and cook meatballs evenly.
• Skillet: Optional for browning meatballs with a nice golden crust.
• Large Pot: Essential for sautéing vegetables and building the soup base.
• Wooden Spoon: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping vegetables and herbs.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp tool for precise chopping of ingredients.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

How to Prepare Italian Comfort Soup

Italian Comfort Soup Magic

• Meatball Creation Genius

Blend ground beef with Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a roomy bowl. Gently shape into adorable bite-sized spheres that promise deliciousness.

• Veggie Symphony

Warm olive oil in a large pot, then dance onions, carrots, and celery around until they become tender and fragrant, releasing their beautiful aromas.

• Liquid Gold Foundation

Pour chicken broth into the pot, seasoning with salt and pepper. Carefully nestle the meatballs into the broth, allowing them to simmer and infuse their rich flavors.

• Pasta Party

Drop pasta into the bubbling broth, letting it cook until perfectly al dente and absorbing all the incredible surrounding tastes.

• Green Finale

Swirl fresh spinach or greens into the soup, watching them gracefully wilt and add a final burst of color and nutrition to this comforting masterpiece.

Flavor Tips for Italian Comfort Soup

• Meatball Mastery: Wet your hands with cold water when forming meatballs to prevent the mixture from sticking and create smoother, more uniform shapes.
• Flavor Boost: Toast breadcrumbs in a dry pan before mixing into the meatball mixture to enhance their nutty, rich flavor and improve overall texture.
• Greens Swap: Replace spinach with kale, Swiss chard, or arugula for different nutritional profiles and exciting taste variations. Each green brings its unique earthy undertones to the soup.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare meatballs and soup base a day in advance. Store separately in the refrigerator, then combine and reheat when ready to serve, allowing flavors to develop and intensify overnight.
• Protein Power: Experiment with ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative instead of beef for lighter or vegetarian versions of this hearty soup. Adjust seasoning accordingly to maintain robust flavor profiles.

Ways to Serve Italian Comfort Soup

• Rustic Bread Companion: Serve this hearty soup with crusty Italian bread or garlic crostini to soak up the delicious broth and add a satisfying crunch.
• Cheese Lover's Topping: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino romano cheese on top for an extra layer of rich, salty flavor that melts beautifully into the warm soup.
• Green Freshness Boost: Garnish with a handful of fresh chopped parsley or basil just before serving to brighten the flavors and add a pop of color to your comforting meal.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement the soup's robust flavors with a glass of medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or a crisp white wine to elevate the entire dining experience.

Storing Leftovers of Italian Comfort Soup

• Batch Cooking Magic: Whip up a double batch of meatballs and soup on weekends, storing portions in airtight containers for quick weeknight meals that save time and reduce daily cooking stress.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool the soup completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers, where it can stay fresh for up to 3 months, creating a delicious emergency dinner option when you're short on time.
• Refrigeration Wisdom: Store leftover soup in sealed containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, keeping meatballs and liquid separate to maintain optimal texture and prevent soggy ingredients.
• Reheating Pro Tips: Gently warm soup on stovetop, adding a splash of fresh chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent drying out, ensuring each spoonful tastes as delicious as the first serving.

Hearty Italian Comfort Soup Recipe

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4.9 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Hearty minestrone soup from Italy brings warmth and comfort to family dinners. Seasonal vegetables, beans, and pasta create a nourishing meal you’ll savor with each spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 cups (1.9 L) chicken broth
• 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
• ½ cup (75 g) small pasta (orzo or acini di pepe)
• 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or escarole/kale)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• ¼ cup (30 g) breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

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Instructions

1. Meat Preparation: Thoroughly blend ground beef with Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a roomy mixing bowl until ingredients are uniformly integrated.
2. Meatball Formation: Craft uniform, compact spheres with the meat mixture, maintaining consistent sizing to guarantee balanced cooking and elegant presentation.
3. Cooking Technique: Select between two methods – either roast meatballs on a lined baking sheet in a heated oven until golden and completely cooked, or skillfully sear them in a skillet with a delicate olive oil coating.
4. Vegetable Foundation: In a substantial soup pot, heat olive oil and delicately sauté onions, carrots, and celery until vegetables become translucent and release an aromatic fragrance.
5. Broth Development: Stream chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, creating a rich liquid foundation, and enhance with strategic seasoning of salt and pepper.
6. Meatball Integration: Gently nestle the prepared meatballs into the simmering broth, allowing them to permeate the liquid with their robust flavor profile.
7. Pasta and Greens Incorporation: Introduce dried pasta directly into the pot, stirring intermittently to prevent adhesion, and simultaneously add fresh spinach, allowing both components to cook simultaneously until pasta reaches perfect al dente consistency and greens wilt elegantly.

Notes

• Master Meat Mixing: Blend ingredients thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly and ensure consistent texture throughout meatballs.
• Perfect Meatball Sizing: Create uniform bite-sized spheres for even cooking and attractive presentation that guarantees each piece cooks identically.
• Gentle Vegetable Sautéing: Cook onions, carrots, and celery slowly to develop deep, rich flavor foundation without burning or harsh browning.
• Pasta Cooking Tip: Stir pasta occasionally during simmering to prevent clumping and achieve ideal al dente texture without overcooking.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg