Best Cheese Croutons For Italian Wedding Soup Recipes

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH PARMESAN SOUP CUBES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Make the meatballs Combine the breadcrumbs and milk in a medium-sized bowl. Add the egg, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and a few cracks of fresh pepper and stir to combine. Add the ground meat and mix well. Roll the meat mixture into miniature meatballs, about 1/2 inch in diameter. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Make the soup Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat. Add the celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Add a dash of salt and a few cracks of fresh pepper. Sautee until the onions become translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken stock and the boullion cube and bring to a boil. Add the meatballs a few at a time, raising the heat to maintain a low boil. Stir gently as you add the meatballs so they don't get stuck to the bottom of the pot. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through. You can make the soup ahead to this point and refrigerate, if necessary. 20 minutes before serving Bring the soup up to a simmer if you refrigerated it. Add the greens and the pasta. Cover and simmer until the pasta is cooked, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot (cooking time will vary based on what kind of pasta you use). Add salt and pepper to taste. Notes Pass the parmesan soup cubes at the table for people to add to their own bowl. Make the parmesan cubes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix the eggs, baking powder, parsley and a few cracks of fresh pepper in a medium bowl. Add the cheese, stirring well to combine. Add flour and mix well. It should be the consistency of a thick batter. If it's too thing, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Grease a small baking dish of about 24 square inches (mine was a 4x6 inch glass dish, but anything close to that will work). Pour the batter into the dish. Bake until the batter has set and the top becomes a light golden brown color, about 30 minutes. Turn out of the dish and let cool on a cooling rack. When cool, cut into small cubes and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Steps:

• To make the meatballs: Stir the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese, beef and pork. Using 1 1/2 teaspoons for each, shape the meat mixture into 1-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a baking sheet.
• To make the soup: Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and curly endive and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and the curly endive is tender, about 8 minutes. Whisk the eggs and cheese in a medium bowl to blend. Stir the soup in a circular motion. Gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin stands of egg, about 1 minute. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. Finish soup with parmesan cheese if desired.

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Steps:

• In large kettle combine chicken breasts, onion, carrot, celery tops, salt and water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer 2 hours or until chicken is tender.
• Remove chicken, cook and cut into small pieces.
• Strain broth and return to kettle.
• Add to broth- 2 ribs celery, cut small; 2 carrots, grated; 1 onion, diced; 8 chicken bouillon cubes.
• Simmer 30 minutes, then add to broth: 1 head endive, cleaned and shredded and par boiled 1 minute in salted water; drain.
• Add cubed meat and meat balls (see below).
• Before serving, while soup is simmering add very slowly: 2 well beaten eggs to soup.
• Stir constantly.
• Serve with flavored croutons.
• Meatballs: Mix ground beef, parsley, cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, egg and bread pieces together and shape into 1/2 inch balls.
• Drop into pan of boiling water 5 minutes.
• Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add to Italian wedding soup along with cubed chicken.
• I like to add some homemade pasta noodles or pastine if you don't have a pasta maker.
• ENJOY!

GARLIC-PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix butter, Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and salt together in a large, flat-bottomed bowl; add bread cubes and turn with a spatula to coat. Spread coated bread cubes onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool croutons completely before storing in an airtight container.