Meatball Soup

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

Show: The Essence of EmerilEpisode: Soups and Stews

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (48)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(48)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
2 quarts

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (14.5-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed with your hands, with their juice
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 (14-ounce) cans reduced-sodium beef broth
1/4 teaspoon Emeril's Italian Essence or other dry Italian seasoning, plus 3/4 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon
3/4 pound ground beef
1/4 pound ground pork
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus 1/4 cup, and more for garnish, optional
1/4 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
1/2 cup ditalini or other small pasta shape for soups
3 cups baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Place a soup pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and heat. Add the chopped onion and celery to the pot and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables are soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes and their juices, beef broth, tomato paste, 1/4 teaspoon of Italian Essence, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stir to combine. Bring to a low simmer and simmer for 15 minutes.

While the broth simmers, make the meatballs. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, 1/3 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, 3/4 teaspoon of the Italian Essence, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and, using clean hands, mix until thoroughly combined.

Divide meat into tablespoons and roll into smooth balls with your hands. Set the rolled meatballs aside on a plate or other flat surface. Wash your hands.

Carefully add the meatballs to the simmering broth. Gently stir, so as not to break up the meatballs Add the remaining 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.

Add the ditalini and spinach to the hot soup, stir well, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through. Stir in the chopped basil and serve the soup in wide bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan, if desired.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Meatball Soup
Christina Presto, PA 03-07-2010
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Easy and Excellent
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this soup several times now, including serving it on Christmas Eve Day for visiting family. I have received rave... reviews each time. For those of you who are FN devotees, you may notice that sometimes the episode of a certain recipe includes a few ingredients that don't make it onto the internet version of the recipe. In this case, one ingredient tha Emeril used was some crushed red pepper flakes in the initial phase (during the saute of the onions and garlic.). This adds an important layer of flavor! Also, don't bake the meatballs or fry them ahead of time. They have plenty of time to 'poach' in your simmering broth, and that's what makes them so tender! Also, for those of you who may not be fans of pork, I substituted the pork for ground chicken and it was as good if not better! Bon Appetit!Read more
recipe Meatball Soup
Janice Gresham, OR 02-07-2010
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So good, so simple
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've made this recipe twice now. Next time I'll give the baby spinach a little chop just so it doesn't hang off the spoon... when you're eating. My husband even loves this soup and he doesn't like cooked spinach! This is very similar to E.L.'s EJ's Simple Italian Meatball Soup so if you don't care for the spinach or want a little more spice you might want to try that one. Cooking the meatballs in the soup is a wonderful time and work saver. It freezes very well. Read more
recipe Meatball Soup
Victoria Las Vegas, NV 02-03-2010
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Awesome!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The only change I made was I left out the spinach. My son doesnt like dark greens much but it was still awesome! I did... brown the meatballs first and put in extra pasta. YUM. I am sure it will be even better tomorrow.Read more
recipe Meatball Soup
Nicole Bangor, ME 01-27-2010
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It was Great!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My husband and I love it. We like it very much I am going to make this again. I will have to say for someone like me that... doesn't cook much it was a very easy recipe to make so I am sure if I can do it anyone can.Read more
recipe Meatball Soup
Sherry Plainfield, IL 01-19-2010
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It was okay
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

the meatballs were great; the soup was so so. I felt it was missing some layer of flavor that i could not identify. i will... probably try it again, but i'd add a carrot---maybe even adding a little pancetta (everything is better with bacon!)Read more
recipe Meatball Soup
Jennifer Otterville, ON 01-10-2010
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Amazing from Down Under
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I just finished making this recipe for the first time and the boys loved it! I accidently doubled the beef stock and it was... still very yummy. I couldn't find proper soup pasta so I just used small shells, and kept the quantity the same and it worked beautifully. Only down part is that it soaked up all the juices! But over all, a very yummy, hearty meal! My aussie friends will love it, especially in the winter (or their so called winter anyways)Read more