With the onset of winter weather, soup is my meal of choice.  There is something about a hearty bowl of soup that nourishes not only the body, but feeds the soul.

This soup is one of my all-time favorites – filled with veggies, meatballs, pasta and a flavorful broth – truly comfort in a bowl!

Enjoy

Kathy

Meatball Minestrone

A perfect rustic soup. Meatballs, slices of carrots and celery, tomatoes, pasta – all in a flavorful beef broth. Comfort in a bowl.

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Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

Meatballs

• 1 10-12 ounce package package frozen chopped spinach thawed, or fresh spinach or chard chopped fine and steamed for 10 minutes.
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Soup

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion coarsely chopped
• 7 cups beef broth or stock
• 1 1-lb can tomatoes
• 1 1-lb can kidney beans
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 1 cup rotelle or other pasta twists like gemelli
• Shaved parmesan cheese.

Instructions

 

For the Meatballs

• With your hands, press out as much water from the thawed or steamed spinach/chard.
• Mix together the spinach, beef, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper.
• Shape into 1-inch balls.
• Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium heat. When oil is hot, add a portion of the mead balls and brown on all sides. Remove them from pan with a slotted spoon, leaving drippings. Repeat until all meatballs are browned.

The Soup

• Add onion to the pan that the meatballs were cooked in and cook them, stirring occasionally until limp (about 5 minutes).
• Stir in beef broth, tomatoes and their liquid, breaking up the tomatoes if needed, beans and their liquid, oregano and basil.
• Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add carrots and celery. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in pasta. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
• Place meatballs in the soup and heat through.
• Pass the Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Depending on the depth of flavor of your beef broth or stock, you might want to add a few beef bouillon cubes or spoonfuls of my favorite - Better than Beef.  Adjust it to your taste - and enjoy!