Michael Chiarellos Italian Meatball Soup Recipes

ITALIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat and add the garlic. Saute 1 minute and then add the peppers and onions and saute until just soft. Let cool.
• Whisk together the basil, parsley and eggs in a small bowl, and then add the salt and black pepper. Combine the Parmesan and breadcrumbs in another small bowl. Thoroughly combine the meat, herbs and eggs, Parmesan and breadcrumbs, the Worcestershire, vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil together in a large bowl using your hands, making sure not to overmix.
• Pack the meat mixture into an oiled loaf pan, if you do not have a loaf pan, form the meat mixture into a loaf shape on an oiled oven tray or baking dish. Top with the marinara making sure to spread evenly over the top.
• Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F in the middle of the meatloaf. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve.

MICHAEL CHIARELLO'S ITALIAN MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Mold the beef, oregano, and onion into tiny meatballs.
• Add to the broth until some rise to the surface.
• Add the orzo.
• Cook until tender.
• Buen Provecho!

MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the meat, egg, cheese, parsley, oregano, basil, onion, bread crumbs, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Add 1 cup of the water. Knead the water into the meat mixture with your hands. Knead and roll meatballs into about 1 1/2-inch balls. Place them in shallow saucepan on stove, add another 1/2 cup of water over them, and cover. Turn heat to medium, and steam for 35 minutes.
• Drain the juice out of the bottom of the pan. Cover with Red Sauce sauce, and toss with a pasta of your choice before serving, or serve as is.
• Slice the pork into roughly 1-inch cubes, season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat. When the oil is hot, add the pork and saute. When slightly brown, turn over and stir with a wooden spoon. Allow to cook for another 2 minutes, until evenly browned on all sides. Remove the pork and allow to cool in bowl, set aside.
• In same soup pot that pork was cooked in, add minced carrot, celery, onion, and garlic. Add a pinch of salt and saute vegetables to a light brown. Add rosemary and stir. Add the caramelized pork back to the vegetables in the pot and stir. Add chianti to pot, stir and bring to boil. Add the tomato paste and the chopped tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 2 hours, skimming the top occasionally of scum that forms.

SLIGHTLY COOKED GAZPACHO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add the garlic and saute until light brown. Add the carrots and continue to saute for 1 minute. Add the tomato juice and bring up to a boil. Pull mixture off the heat and cool over an ice bath or refrigerate for 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cooled tomato mixture, lemon juice, fennel, cucumber, onion, zucchini, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to chill until cold.
• Just before serving, add the tomatoes, parsley, basil, and vinegar. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil over top.

MEATBALLS IN BBQ GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat for 1 minute. When the oil is hot, add the bacon and render. When golden brown and beginning to crisp, add minced carrot, celery, onion, and garlic. Add a pinch of salt and saute vegetables to a light brown. Add rosemary and brown sugar and stir. Add Chianti and vinegar to pot, stir and bring to boil. Add the tomato paste, chipotles in adobo, and the chopped tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, skimming the top occasionally to remove any scum that forms.
• While the BBQ gravy is simmering, make the meatballs.
• In a large bowl, mix together the meat, egg, Worcestershire, cheese, parsley, oregano, basil, onion, bread crumbs, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup of water. Knead the water into the meat mixture with your hands. Knead and roll meatballs into about 1 1/2-inch balls. Place them in shallow saucepan on stove, add another 1/2 cup of water over them, and cover. Turn heat to medium, and steam for 35 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the meatballs from the pan. Drain the juice out of the bottom of the pan, return the meatballs to it and cover them with warm BBQ gravy. Serve on top of Grilled Spaghetti.

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine the chicken broth and 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, add the turkey, panko, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup Parmesan to a large bowl. Mix with a fork or clean hands until combined. Gently roll the mixture into 12 medium (2-inch) or 20 small (1 1/2-inch) meatballs and transfer to a baking sheet lined with lightly oiled aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat.
• Heat the broiler to high and set an oven rack 6 to 8 inches from the heat. Broil the meatballs until brown on two sides, turning halfway through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Add the pasta to the boiling broth and cook over medium until al dente, then lower the heat to a low simmer.
• Add the meatballs to the broth and simmer on low until completely warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, and add the spinach and lemon zest, stirring well, to wilt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide the soup among four bowls. Drizzle each with olive oil, sprinkle with more Parmesan and squeeze a bit of lemon over the top. Scatter the dill over the top, or stir in.

ITALIAN MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Peel carrots with vegetable peeler. Finely chop carrots, celery and onions.
• Lightly spray pot(4qt) with oil and add carrots, celery and onion. Cook over medium heat 4-5 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown, stirring occasionally.
• Push vegetables to one side of pot. Add tomato paste; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until paste begins to caramelize.
• Add pressed garlic and seasoning; mix well. Stir in tomatoes; broth and water; bring to a simmer.
• Cut meatballs in half; add to soup. Simmer an additional 10-12 minutes; season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve hot and garnish with Ciabatta Croutons.
• Ciabatta Croutons:.
• Pre heat Oven to 425 degrees. Slice loaf into 1 inch cubes. Toss cubes with olive oil and arrange in an even layer on pan. Bake 12-14minutes or until golden brown.

HEARTY ITALIAN MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Stir water, tomatoes, beef broth, and Italian seasoning together in a large pot; bring to a boil. Add meatballs, Italian-blend vegetables, and pasta to the pot. Return broth to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the meatballs are heated through and the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese.

MAMA CHIARELLO'S STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Chop eggplant that has been scooped out of the inside; place in saucepan, cover with water and boil until very soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Salt and pepper the beef. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan, and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Let cool briefly, and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and saute the onion, pepper and garlic together in the oil.
• In a bowl, mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and the egg. Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly between the two halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes, the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs, and season with salt and pepper. Place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool briefly; slice widthwise and serve.

CHIARELLO'S CHICKEN AND PASTINA SOUP

Steps:

• Place chicken in 12-inch skillet. Add 1 carton of the broth. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170 degrees F).
• Meanwhile, in 5-quart stockpot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.
• Drain chicken, reserving broth; set chicken aside. Strain broth; add to vegetables. Stir remaining carton of broth, the tomatoes, salt, pepper and bay leaf into stockpot. Heat to boiling. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Shred or cut chicken into bite-size pieces; add to soup. Stir in greens just until wilted. Remove bay leaf. Serve with a sprinkle of additional freshly ground pepper and the cheese.

CHIARELLO'S ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• To make roasted winter squash: Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat butter over medium-high heat in an ovenproof sauté pan; add diced squash, salt and pepper. When squash begins to brown, place pan in oven. Roast for 15 minutes or until medium-brown on all sides. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Puree in food processor, or mash with potato masher or ricer. Measure 1 1/2 cups squash; reserve.
• To make soup: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, celery, carrot and cinnamon stick; sauté until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the broth and the coriander; bring to a boil. Simmer for several minutes. Stir in reserved squash until smooth; simmer gently to let the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Puree the soup using an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth. (The soup can be made ahead to this point, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for several days or frozen for about 1 month. It will thicken as it cools and may need thinning with broth or water when reheating.).
• Return the soup to the pan and reheat gently. Add the half-and-half. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Top each serving with pumpkin seeds and toasted bread crumbs.
• Tip *Depending on how rich you want it, or how cold it is outside, you can use cream, yogurt or mascarpone instead of the half-and-half.
• Copyright 2010 Michael Chiarello. Recipe provided by Chef Michael Chiarello - June 2010.