Chef John's Italian Wedding Soup

Chef John's Italian Wedding Soup

Recipe by John Mitzewich from allrecipes.com

6 Hr. 10 Mins.

Ingredients

8

8 servings

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 thick slice meaty beef shank with bone
  • ⅓ cup coarsely chopped onion
  • ⅓ cup coarsely chopped carrot
  • ⅓ cup coarsely chopped celery
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ¼ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 10 ounces boneless beef short ribs
  • ½ beaten egg
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup soft bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (Optional)
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (Optional)
  • 1 quart chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
  • ⅓ cup pastina (tiny star-shaped pasta) or other tiny pasta
  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper to taste (Optional)
  • 1 teaspoon shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (Optional)

Instructions

  • Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a large, heavy pot over high heat; brown beef shank slice in hot oil until seared and browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Add onion, carrot, celery, water, bay leaf, 3 cloves peeled garlic, and black peppercorns; bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer until meat falls off the bone and stock turns brown in color, 4 to 5 hours. Add more water if beef stock level gets below about 5 cups.
  • Place beef short ribs into freezer until firm and very cold, about 15 minutes. Cut meat into cubes and return to freezer until almost frozen, about 30 more minutes.
  • Whisk egg with parsley, 2 cloves garlic, and cream in a bowl. Stir in bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
  • Place partially-frozen beef cubes into food processor and pulse with with 1/3 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper until beef is coarsely ground, 5 to 10 pulses. Pulse in bread crumb mixture until mixture is finely ground, about 5 more pulses. Transfer meat to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
  • Strain beef stock into a large soup pot, discarding beef and vegetables. Mix chicken broth into beef stock and whisk in tomato paste. Bring broth mixture to a simmer and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir kale into broth; simmer kale until tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Scoop 2-teaspoon portions of the meat mixture and roll into meatballs.
  • Pour pastina into the simmering soup, cook for 5 minutes, and gently add meatballs. Simmer until meatballs are cooked through and tender, about 15 minutes. Serve in bowls garnished with a pinch of black pepper or a sprinkle of shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Nutritional Facts

Per 8 servings

  • Calories: 214
  • Carbohydrate: 17g
  • Fat: 10g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Sugar: 2g

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