Pasta Queen Wedding Soup

This is a recipe that would make Nonna weep with pride. This is my take on the classic and beloved Wedding Soup, or Zuppa Maritata. This is a soul-warming soup that is traditionally made during the holidays, and the name comes from the many different layers of flavor that come together to form an everlasting bond of love, just like a beautiful marriage. Now, no disrespect to the Nonnas, because without them we wouldn’t have this amazing and nourishing recipe, but my version is a bit modernized to make it more kid-friendly. Back in the day, this soup was made with whatever bits and bobs of pork were around, and it wasn’t uncommon to find a pig foot floating in your soup. Was it absolutely bursting with flavor, of course! But I wanted to reinvent this into something my kids would really love, so I swapped the pork for tiny beef meatballs, which have a secret ingredient (potato!) that makes them super light and tender. As for the base of the soup, you start with a beautiful mix of soffrito which gets cooked down until almost melted, then you add a little tomato paste and a lot of hearty leafy green vegetables. Once the greens start to soften, you brown off the meatballs in the juices until everything looks gorgeous and is somewhat coated in a glaze. Then you deglaze the pan with some water, which creates the most flavorful broth you’ve ever tasted. Everything simmers until it’s bubbly and just gorgeous, just like you are. To serve, instead of pasta I use cubes of stale sourdough bread. The broth softens it beautifully and adds another layer of flavor to this soup. Make a pot this holiday season, your guests are sure to fall in love!