Description
Hearty Italian meatball soup celebrates robust flavors from generations of Mediterranean cooking traditions. Rich broth, tender meatballs, and fresh vegetables combine for a comforting meal you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 pound meatballs
- 1 (28 fl oz / 794 g) can crushed tomatoes (fire roasted recommended)
- 1.5 cups fusilli pasta
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ red bell pepper, chopped small
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, torn/chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high flame. Sauté onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic, stirring rapidly to release its aromatic essence without scorching.
- Liquid Foundation: Pour crushed tomatoes and beef broth into the pot, creating a vibrant liquid base. Incorporate diced red bell peppers, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes for depth and subtle heat.
- Meatball Integration: Gently submerge prepared meatballs into the liquid, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil to harmonize flavors and ensure even cooking.
- Pasta Immersion: Add fusilli pasta, allowing it to tumble among meatballs and vegetables. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, partially covering the pot to retain moisture and prevent liquid evaporation.
- Final Touches: After 15 minutes, check pasta tenderness and adjust liquid consistency with additional beef broth if needed. Conclude by stirring in fresh basil, seasoning with salt and pepper, and serving hot with an optional Parmesan cheese garnish.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Chop all vegetables and measure ingredients before starting to streamline cooking process and ensure smooth execution.
- Meatball Magic: Use room temperature meat for more even mixing and better texture when forming meatballs, preventing tough or dense results.
- Flavor Layering: Toast Italian seasoning briefly in the pot before adding liquids to intensify and release deeper, more complex herb notes.
- Pasta Perfection: Add pasta towards the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain ideal al dente texture, absorbing just the right amount of flavorful broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg