Ingredients

The following ingredients have 6 Servings
  • For the Meatballs:
  • 1 pound ground meat (beef, pork, chicken or turkey or a combination of them combined with some sausage)
  • 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs (preferably fresh)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
  • 1/4 cup parsley (finely chopped)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • For the Soup:
  • 1 small yellow onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 8 cups Aneto 100% Natural Chicken Broth or homemade ((quality broth makes all the difference)
  • 1 cup acini di pepe or other tiny pasta
  • 1 large bunch leafy greens (roughly chopped (e.g., kale, escarole, curly endive, spinach))
  • Freshly grated Parmesan for serving
  • Red pepper flakes for serving (optional)

Instruction

  • Place all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl or food processor and knead with your hands or pulse with the food processor until thoroughly combined. Form the mixture into tiny meatballs, about 1/2 inch in diameter and place them on a platter or cookie sheet. Wrap them with plastic wrap and refrigerate them until ready to use.
  • In a medium stock pot, heat the oil and cook the onions and garlic until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Gently drop the meatballs into the soup followed by the pasta. Let the meatballs and pasta simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the leafy greens and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until wilted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Dish up the soup and serve sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
  • Optional (a tradition in some circles): At very end, once the greens are wilted, whisk 1 tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese together with 1 large egg. Stir the broth to get it moving and gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the broth, stirring it gently with a fork to form thin stands of egg.