Description
A comforting, restaurant-quality Italian soup featuring delicate handcrafted lean beef meatballs nestled in a vibrant vegetable broth. Packed with carrots, celery, mushrooms, and tender pasta, this tomato-kissed dish offers a nourishing and wholesome meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or a soothing weekend dinner, it balances earthy flavors with Mediterranean flair to warm you from the inside out.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, beaten
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
4 cups beef broth (alcohol-free)
1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 ounces thin pasta, cooked separately
Freshly grated Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper until just combined.
Form mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides, then remove and set aside.
In the same pot, melt butter and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
Add onion, celery, and carrots, sauteing until softened.
Add the mushrooms and cook until browned.
Pour in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes, stirring well to combine.
Add the dried oregano and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Return the meatballs to the pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
Stir in the separately cooked pasta just before serving.
Top each bowl with a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan.
Notes
Keep the pasta separate until serving to prevent it from becoming mushy in the soup. This soup stores beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg