pat's Recipe

Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole

Category: Crockpot Soups

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup finely chopped onion (1 large)
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef (93% lean)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 large carrots, chopped
2 tablespoons snipped fresh oregano or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
1 small head escarole (8 ounces), trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 cup dried acini di pepe pasta
Fresh oregano sprigs (optional)

directions

1. In a large bowl, combine eggs, onion, bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Add ground beef; mix well. Shape mixture into forty 1-1/4-inch meatballs. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil; brown meatballs, half at a time. Drain on paper toweling.

2. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine broth, carrots, dried oregano (if using), the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gently add meatballs.

3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 hours, stirring in fresh oregano (if using), pasta, and escarole during the last 20 minutes of cooking. Ladle into bowls. If desired, garnish with oregano sprigs. Soup will thicken upon standing.

8 servings.