This soup is packed with protein and fresh vegetables. You can use whatever greens you have on hand or add frozen veggies too. You can also easily half the soup recipe and then freeze half the meatballs for a quick dinner another night.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Soup
Servings: 6people
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
1 1/2lb.pastured grass-fed ground beef
1/2lb.ground porkor all ground beef
1tsp.sea salt
1/2tsp.ground black pepper
2large eggslightly beaten
2clovesgarlicminced
2tbsp.parsleyfreshly chopped
1tspdried oregano
1tsponion powder
1 1/3cupfresh breadcrumbs
1/2cupParmesan or Romano cheesefinely grated
2/3cupmilk or water
FOR THE SOUP:
2tbsp.olive oil
1/4tsp.crushed red pepper flakesoptional
1 1/4cupdiced yellow onionabout 3/4 -1 onion
1 1/4cupdiced celery4-5 stalks
1 1/2cupdiced carrots3 large carrots
4clovesgarlicfinely chopped or minced
8cupschicken broth
1tbsplemon juiceabout half a lemon
5cupsdark leafy greensescarole, spinach, swiss chard, or kale chopped coarsely
sea saltto taste
black pepperto taste
1/4cupfreshly chopped parsley
1/2tsp.dried oregano
grated/finely shredded parmesan for serving
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, combine all of the 'for the meatballs' ingredients. Using your hands, gently combine.
With a melon baller or a teaspoon, drop ~1 - 1 1/4 inch balls onto two parchment paper lined baking sheets. Using your hands, go back through and roll the meatballs into round circles, they don't have to be perfect.
Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes (swap placement of trays halfway through), or until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside until soup is ready.
While the meatballs bake, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a dutch oven or large soup pot.
Add the chicken broth and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to a low simmer (medium-low heat or low heat depending on your stovetop). Simmer for about 10-20 minutes (or until meatballs are done).
Add the parsley, oregano, and the leafy greens. Stir until just wilted.
Add the cooked meatballs into the soup, taste and add salt and pepper, to taste.
Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with parmesan and enjoy!
Notes
The meatballs freeze well. You can make double the meatballs recipe and freeze half, or make the full recipe of meatballs (freeze half) and make half the soup recipe (for 4 people).
To freeze the meatballs: once they are cooked and have cooled, put your pan straight in the freezer. Leave them for about 1-2hrs, then take them out and throw them into a freezer bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can, and then put back in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.