Description
Enjoy a warm bowl of Healthier Italian Wedding Soup with Lemon and Garlic, combining turkey meatballs, vibrant vegetables, and fresh spinach for a nutritious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ground turkey or chicken
- 1 large Egg
- 1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp Chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- to taste Kosher salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium Yellow onion
- 4 cloves Large cloves of garlic
- 2 medium Carrots
- 2 stalks Celery
- 6 cups Low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
- 4 cups Fresh baby spinach
- 2 tbsp Juice of lemons
- 1 cup Dry acini de pepe or orzo pasta
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use a bit of olive oil on your hands and roll the mixture into small, 1-inch meatballs, placing them on a baking sheet.
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once shimmering, add in the chopped onion and smashed garlic cloves, cooking for about 5 minutes until they turn golden and fragrant.
- Toss in the chopped carrots and celery along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another 5 minutes. Next, pour in the low sodium chicken broth, add the parmesan rind, and sprinkle in the red pepper flakes. Gently stir the meatballs into the broth and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until the meatballs are fully cooked.
- Stir in the fresh baby spinach and lemon juice, cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Be sure to remove the parmesan rind beforehand! Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary.
- While the soup simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Distribute the cooked pasta amongst bowls and ladle the steaming soup over top. For an extra touch, sprinkle more grated parmesan on each bowl if desired.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg