Italian Wedding Soup with Fregola Sarda & Spinach

Italian Wedding Soup

with Fregola Sarda & Spinach

20 MIN
2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

Contrary to popular belief, this Italian-American dish isn’t actually named for its appearance at weddings. “Minestra maritata,” or wedding soup, is so named for its perfect marriage of savory meatballs and tender, leafy greens. (We’re using baby spinach.) You’ll be making your own chicken meatballs and simmering all the ingredients—including fregola sarda (a toasted pasta from the island of Sardinia)—in a delightful and simple chicken broth. It’s a warming recipe we’re sure you’ll say “yes” to.

Get Cooking
  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    630 Cals (est.)
fresh
ingredients
Italian Wedding Soup with Fregola Sarda & Spinach
Title
  • 10 oz Ground Chicken
  • ½ cup Fregola Sarda Pasta
  • 3 oz Baby Spinach
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Carrot
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 1 stalk Celery
  • 1 bunch Parsley
  • 3 Tbsps Chicken Demi-Glace
  • ⅓ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • ⅓ cup Plain Breadcrumbs
time-saving
tips & techniques
Chicken Demi-Glace
Parmesan Cheese
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Finely chop the spinach. Peel and mince the garlic. Peel and small dice the onion. Peel and small dice the carrot. Small dice the celery. Pick the parsley leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

Form the meatballs:
2 Form the meatballs:

In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, ¼ of the onion, half the garlic, half the Parmesan cheese and half the parsley (roughly chopping the leaves just before adding). Season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, form the mixture into 24 to 28 meatballs, each about 1 inch in diameter.

Cook the aromatics:
3 Cook the aromatics:

In a medium pot, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the carrot, celery and remaining onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant.

Make the broth & add the meatballs:
4 Make the broth & add the meatballs:

To the pot of aromatics, add the fregola sarda pasta, chicken demi-glace and 3 cups of water; season with salt and pepper. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the meatballs. Reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. (You can test the doneness of your meatballs by removing one from the pot and cutting it in half.)

Finish the soup:
5 Finish the soup:

Once the meatballs are cooked through, stir the spinach into the pot of soup; season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer 2 to 3 minutes, or until the spinach has completely wilted. Remove from heat.

Plate your dish:
6 Plate your dish:

Divide the finished soup between 2 bowls. Top with the remaining Parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Italian Wedding Soup

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Finely chop the spinach. Peel and mince the garlic. Peel and small dice the onion. Peel and small dice the carrot. Small dice the celery. Pick the parsley leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

2 Form the meatballs:

In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, ¼ of the onion, half the garlic, half the Parmesan cheese and half the parsley (roughly chopping the leaves just before adding). Season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, form the mixture into 24 to 28 meatballs, each about 1 inch in diameter.

Form the meatballs:
Cook the aromatics:
3 Cook the aromatics:

In a medium pot, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the carrot, celery and remaining onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant.

4 Make the broth & add the meatballs:

To the pot of aromatics, add the fregola sarda pasta, chicken demi-glace and 3 cups of water; season with salt and pepper. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the meatballs. Reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. (You can test the doneness of your meatballs by removing one from the pot and cutting it in half.)

Make the broth & add the meatballs:
Finish the soup:
5 Finish the soup:

Once the meatballs are cooked through, stir the spinach into the pot of soup; season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer 2 to 3 minutes, or until the spinach has completely wilted. Remove from heat.

6 Plate your dish:

Divide the finished soup between 2 bowls. Top with the remaining Parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy!

Plate your dish:
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