CALIFORNIA ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

California Italian Wedding Soup image

This is my variation of a standard recipe. I like fresh basil and a little lemon rind, so those are basically my only changes. This is a quick and easy soup with flavors that impress all.

Provided by DPATEL

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beef Soup Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

½ pound extra-lean ground beef
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons shredded fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
2 green onions, sliced
5 ¾ cups chicken broth
2 cups finely sliced escarole (spinach may be substituted)
1 lemon, zested
½ cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta), uncooked
grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Steps:

Mix together the meat, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, basil, parsley, and green onions; shape into 3/4 inch balls.
Pour broth into a large saucepan over high heat. When boiling, drop in meatballs. Stir in escarole, lemon zest and orzo. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook at a slow boil for 10 minutes or until orzo is tender, stirring frequently. Serve sprinkled with cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 158.9 calories, Carbohydrate 15.4 g, Cholesterol 55.3 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 11.5 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 98.6 mg, Sugar 1.1 g