Using Turkey
If your family doesn’t eat pork or you want to lower the fat content of this soup, you can use Italian turkey sausage instead of pork. My family uses turkey sausage often in recipes; it provides a great flavor and is an awesome swap! Meatball Soup was the one of the first recipes that I learned how to make. It was rich and hearty, and there was something about combining chicken stock and tomato sauce that create a taste so reminiscent of my grandmother’s cooking I could have cried. While this dish does take a little bit of work in the kitchen, it is far from complicated and I know this is a soup your family will come to love! The meatballs will be cooked in the soup. They can be made up to a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Make the meatballs. Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs. Scoop the mixture using a cookie scoop and roll into balls using clean hands. Set aside. Sauté the vegetables. Cook the carrot, onion, celery, and garlic until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Make the soup. Add in the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, dried basil, and dried oregano. Add in the meatballs and bring to a roaring boil, then simmer. Add the spaghetti. Cook for eight minutes while boiling. Serve with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
What to Serve With Italian Meatball Soup
Round out this hearty soup with these simple sides. In this recipe in particular, the sweetness of the carrots and the complexity of the meatballs can mask the acidity of the canned tomatoes. However, brands of tomatoes vary greatly, and there are some cans out there that are intensely acidic. It almost has a bitter taste. If you find that is the case when you finish this soup, you will want to add just a pinch of sugar. Start with about half a teaspoon and keep adding in that increment until you are in love with your soup but before it gets sweet. Reheat portions in the microwave on half power or in a saucepan on the stove over lower heat until heated through, stirring often. Remember to only reheat leftovers once. When you are ready to eat the soup, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Add the thawed soup to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the dry spaghetti and cook for eight minutes. Enjoy!
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If you make this recipe for meatball soup or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
