Minestra Maritata (Italian Wedding Soup)

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 ⅓ cups chopped yellow onion

⅔ cup chopped carrot

⅔ cup chopped celery

2 tablespoons minced garlic

6 cups unsalted chicken broth

6 ounces orzo, preferably whole-wheat

1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh oregano

½ teaspoon kosher salt

24 cooked chicken meatballs (12 ounces), such as Easy Chicken Meatballs (see associated recipe)

4 cups baby spinach

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add broth, cover and bring to a boil. Add orzo, oregano and salt; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is just tender, about 9 minutes.

Stir in meatballs and spinach; cook until the meatballs are heated through and the spinach is wilted, 2 to 4 minutes.

Serve sprinkled with cheese and drizzled with the remaining 3 tablespoons oil.

Nutrition

• Calories: 415 kcal
• Total Fat: 19 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 101 mg
• Sodium: 728 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 36 g
• Dietary Fiber: 4 g
• Total Sugars: 5 g
• Protein: 26 g