Weeknight Dinners and Sides, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024

Italian Wedding Soup with Zucchini

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 40 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
This summery approach to Italian wedding soup uses sausage formed into marble-sized meatballs. Packed with fresh green vegetables, including zucchini and Swiss chard, this hearty soup is both healthy and satisfying.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pastina and cook as the label directs for al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, roll the sausage into 1/2-inch balls. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage in an even layer and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel–lined plate. Pour off the oil from the pot and wipe clean with a paper towel.
  3. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and Swiss chard stems; cook, stirring and reducing the heat if necessary, until tender, 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the zucchini and cook until tender, 3 minutes.
  4. Add the chicken broth, 2 cups water, the Swiss chard leaves and the sausage to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chard wilts, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the peas and pastina and cook until heated through, 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
  5. Divide the soup among large bowls. Top with Parmesan.