My mom makes the best soup. Every variety she makes is delicious… Broccoli cheddar, chicken noodle, beef, vegetable, ham and bean, and my all-time favorite, Italian wedding soup.
The secret to making amazing soup is using homemade chicken stock. Store-bought stock is a pale substitute to homemade… There really isn’t a suitable comparison. The rich, hearty, fresh flavor is worth the extra time.
The very first time I made my mom’s Italian wedding soup, I drained the stock into a colander that I’d placed in the sink. The problem was I did NOT put a bowl underneath the colander. I was so intent on not letting the chicken and veggie bits drop in the sink, I didn’t even notice my golden stock flowing down the drain until the last seconds. I wasn’t exactly happy when I finally realized what I’d done. I had more chicken, so after a few deep breaths, I made another batch. Although it tasted fine, the soup magic was gone after that blunder.
It took me a few more times, but I was finally able to replicate my mom’s version. The stock is salty and full of flavor, the chicken tastes fantastic from the slow cook in the stock, the carrots are sweet and slightly crisp, and the meatballs… My favorite part, absorb all these flavors while also distributing additional elements into the soup. It’s simple, without using a lot of ingredients, and tasty.
Another great thing? This is an easy weeknight meal – just make your stock and meatballs over the weekend! Add a fresh salad or loaf of crusty Italian bread for a perfect dinner.
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