Italian Wedding Soup

• For the soup
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed (or 1 cup cooked pasta or orzo)
• 1 bunch of greens (such as Swiss chard), chopped or torn into 2-inch pieces
• For the meatballs
• 1 lb ground meat (such as beef, chicken, or turkey)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
• 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp kosher salt (or 1/2 tsp fine salt)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh oregano)
• For the egg mixture
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• For serving
• Fresh oregano
• Lemon wedges

Instructions

1. Aromatics

   1

   Heat 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent and lightly golden (not brown). Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook very briefly, about 20 seconds, to avoid burning the garlic. Add the stock and potatoes, and bring the soup to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and allow it to gently simmer for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

2. Meatballs

   2

   In the meantime, combine all the meatball ingredients thoroughly, but be gentle, as overmixing will result in dry meatballs. Heat the remaining 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil over medium-high heat in a frying pan. Sear the meatballs for a total of about 5 minutes until they are seared and brown on all sides. You do not need to cook them through—we will finish cooking them in the soup.

3. 3

   Add the seared meatballs and greens to the soup and cover. Continue simmering for about 10 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.

4. Egg Drop Finish

   4

   Combine 2 eggs, 1/2 cup (120ml) shredded Parmesan, and 1 tbsp (15ml) soy sauce in a small bowl. Pour it into the pot while stirring your soup gently. Cook for about 30 seconds. At that point, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, oregano, and/or red pepper flakes. Enjoy! Serve with optional lemon wedges and fresh oregano.