Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs
Serves 8.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into rounds 1/2 inch thick
- 2 celery stalks, cut into slices 1/2 inch thick
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups chopped kale leaves
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 can (19 oz.) cannellini or white kidney beans
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- Salt, to taste, plus 1/2 tsp. salt
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more, to taste
Directions
In a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the kale and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and tomato and bring to a boil. Stir in the stock, water and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover partially and simmer until well flavored, about 1 hour. During the last 10 minutes, drain the beans, rinse with cold running water and drain again, then add to the pot along with the basil. Season with salt and red pepper flakes. Discard the bay leaf.Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the chicken, half of the cheese, the bread crumbs, egg, the 1/2 tsp. salt and the 1/4 tsp. black pepper. Increase the heat under the soup to medium and bring to a light boil. Drop rounded tablespoons of the chicken mixture into the soup. Their texture will firm up on contact with the hot liquid. Cover and cook until the meatballs are cooked through, about 12 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and black pepper.
Ladle into warmed individual bowls and serve hot. Pass the remaining cheese at the table.
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Rated 5 out of
5
by
AliG from
Family Favorite
My family and I love this soup. We've been making it for years. I will admit, the color is...unusual, but the soup is absolutely delicious. The only modification we make is adding more chicken stock. Otherwise there's not a ton of liquid when it's reheated. As other raters have said, this soup tastes even better the second day, and it freezes well. Serve it up with some crusty, hot bread for a cozy fall meal.
Date published: 2023-10-27
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Lynn E from
Awful--taste and visually
I've had this recipe for several years, and been meaning to try it out -- with 4.8 stars who wouldn't! Well, the recipe is going in the trash -- this soup closely resembles the mopping up water after you clean the kitchen floor. Seriously, who puts RED wine in a chicken soup? It does nothing but make the dish look like filthy dishwater. My guests tried to eat it, but eventually decided it was like eating what must be served in prison. No amount of additional Parmesan Regiano or Pecorino Romano helped! No additional red pepper flakes could get us past what we looked at. Sorry, WS, but this is not up to your standards.
Date published: 2017-12-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
GTTeacher from
Freezes Well, Too!
This recipe was delightful! I used flax meal instead of bread crumbs and it turned out great! Since I was cooking for two, I froze half of it and we ate it again a couple of weeks later. Tasted just as amazing! It's a staple now!
Date published: 2015-08-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Consumer2 from
Excellent, tasty, easy, and healthy
I made this soup without the meatballs and it was yummy. I also substituted spinach instead of using kale. The soup was easy to prepare and tasted even better the next day. I served it with a salad. Would definitely make this again.
Date published: 2013-01-28
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Sandbar2 from
Tasty & healthy
Made this soup for dinner tonight and my husband and I really enjoyed it. The flavors blended together very well. Definitely will make this soup again!
Date published: 2012-01-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
aniron1 from
A BIG hit with my son
Tried this recipe a couple of nights ago. Modified a small amount of the recipe to suit food allergies in the family (GF bread, only egg whites & DF); and the remaining amount just as the recipe called for. Both were equally good and now my son loves beans. Will be a staple in my household.
Date published: 2012-01-08