MINI MEATBALL SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil.
• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the carrots, broccoli stems and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally to keep the garlic from scorching, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the broth is flavorful, 5 to 7 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as it simmers.
• Once the broth begins to simmer, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and divide it among bowls.
• While the pasta cooks and the broth simmers, use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to scoop little sausage meatballs and plop them into the broth. (You can also pinch 1/2-inch pieces of the sausage and roll them between your hands.) Return to a boil, add the broccoli florets, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring gently and occasionally, until the sausage is cooked through and the florets are bright green, 5 to 7 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the soup over the orecchiette. Finish with Parmesan.

Steps:

• In a deep pot, over medium heat, add oil, chopped carrots, celery, and onion and bay leaves. (I use my mini-processer and finely chop carrots and onions) Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook veggies for 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While veggies cook, combine meat, egg, garlic, grated cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a seperate bowl.
• Uncover your soup pot and add broth and water to the pot. Increase heat a bit and bring soup to a boil. When soup boils, reduce heat a bit and start to roll meat mixture into small balls, dropping them straight into pot. You are making meat dumplings that will cook in the broth. When you are done rolling the meat, add the pasta to soup and stir. Cover and simmer soup for 10 to 20 minutes. Remove the 2 bay leaves. When pasta is tender, stir in chopped spinich in batches. When spinich is wilted, soup is done. Adjust your seasonings if needed.
• I do not add the spinach. I add more meatballs or noodles. A person could put in kale instead.