Nothing beats a comforting low carb soup on a cold dreary day. This classic Italian Wedding Soup is sure to hit the spot!
So it kinda sorta snowed in Portland yesterday. By which I mean it really wanted to snow but couldn’t quite muster up the energy. There weren’t really visible flakes in the air unless you looked really hard in exactly the right direction with your eyes half-crossed. It seemed like it was really just rain. It But when the raindrops hit my windshield, they hit heavily and left something of a melting snowflake impression. It wasn’t even sleet or freezing rain, it was just Pacific Northwest rain that wanted to be snow but didn’t quite know how. It did actually snow up in the hills near the zoo, but down here it was only kinda sorta snow that didn’t leave a trace on the ground.
It was cold though. The kind of wet cold that chills you to the bone. The kind of wet cold that chills you to the bone and makes you dream of warm comforting soup. Warm comforting soup like Italian Wedding Soup, with luscious meatballs and plenty of parmesan cheese. Only skip the pasta, please, and pop in some cauliflower rice. Now you’ve just amped up your nutrient quotient and managed to warm yourself up. The perfect meal for a day when it kinda sorta snows.
All that’s pretty great, but what if I told you that you could also win this gorgeous soup tureen from Lagostina? It’s a stunning double-walled stainless steel pot that can go from stove to table, it looks so nice. An elegant design with an ash knob so you can lift the lid with your bare hands, no matter how hot it is. The pot itself is also oven-safe, although the lid is not because of the wooden handle. It also comes with a stainless ladle and an ash polenta stick. Ostensibly, this pot is designed for two classic Italian dishes, minestrone and polenta. But it’s truly a multipurpose soup or stewpot. And it retails at Williams Sonoma for $199.
I will be honest and say I’d never heard of Lagostina until I was offered this pot to try. But I’ve poked around a bit and they have some absolutely gorgeous cookware. My experience with the line thus far is extremely favourable. My stove is very high-powered and I often have trouble when I try to sauté onions and other veggies, as they brown too quickly. But the double-walled design of this pot helped me soften them without browning, which is ideal for a soup like Italian Wedding.
Low Carb Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients
Meatbals:
- 1 lb ground beef OR ground pork
- ½ cup crushed pork rinds OR almond flour
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 large egg
Soup:
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 4 celery stalks chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups riced cauliflower
- 2 cups packed spinach leaves
- Additional salt and pepper
- Parmesan for sprinkling
Instructions
Meatballs:
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground meat, crushed pork rinds, cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the egg and combine well using your hands.
- Form into ½ inch meatballs and place on a waxed paper-lined tray. Refrigerate until ready to add to the soup.
Soup:
- In a large saucepan or stock pot, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, celery, salt, and pepper and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Stir in the chicken broth and oregano. Bring to just a boil and then reduce the temperature and simmer 10 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower rice and the meatballs and cook until the meatballs are cooked through and float to the top, about 5 minutes.
- Add the spinach leaves and cook until wilted, 2 minutes more. Season to taste
Notes
Total fat: 20.16g
Calories from fat: 181
Cholesterol: 73mg
Carbohydrate: 5.73g
Total dietary fiber: 1.86g
Protein: 29.48g
Tracy says
Carolyn, would frozen spinach work ok for this soup? It’s all I have and just coming off of Covid, I need something hearty like this in my life!
Carolyn says
Sure, I can’t see why not! I am so sorry you were sick.
Joan Cook says
Cold and rainy day here in Ohio.. and so glad to see this recipe today! Making it with your focaccia bread:). You are the best!
Michele says
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
For about 6 yrs we have done soup Sundays during the fall/winter months. This year I have had to change my diet to low carb. I was worried about continuing our traditions but this is the second recipe we have made and it is now in the soup menu rotation. So delicious!!!! Even my non keto soup has been enjoying them!! So much flavor. I did make the meatballs with ground turkey and it was delicious!!
Valerie says
Made this last night and used arugula instead of spinach. Absolutely delicious!
Amy says
This Italian Wedding Soup recipe is fantastic! I made it for SuperBowl yesterday and it is now in our top two soups! It’s absolutely delicious! It makes the labor totally worth it! Thanks so much for another fabulous recipe, Carolyn!
WiSmy says
Nice recipe. Never made Italian wedding soup before! Cauliflower was a delish addition.
CHEATED with frozen Talluto’s Soup Size Italian Style Meatballs. Never had them before. I got them from Acme in Maryland (in case anyone can find them). Not super low carb, but MIGHT fit into some people’s diets: 250 Cal, Serving Size 85g, Fat 20g, Carb 5g (Fiber 1g), Protein 13g. Contains breadcrumbs.
So, funny story… I bought these mini meatballs as a lunch option for my nephew… but, over the course of 3 days, that Italian boy never picked them. What to do? lol… Italian wedding soup. Easy enough.
Yes, I know, I ignored the meatball portion of the recipe. Major substitution. That being said… Next, time… If I used frozen meatballs again, I’d increase the chicken broth from 6 to 8 cups (and use homemade instead of boxed; the broth needed more fat/richness). Instead of spinach, maybe kale or collards?
Ruth Wheatley says
I made this but did not realize I was out of chicken broth I had to compromise with beef broth It is still fabulous thank you
Bonita says
Have I told you lately that I love you….
Your recipes are my life!
A million thanks ❤️
Jodie Foster says
Better than making it with pasta. Omitted celery and onion added extra spinach and it was the best ever!