Italian Wedding Soup, with Matzo Balls......YUMMO!

I made this most delicious soup last night, Italian Wedding Soup, but with Matzo Balls! Italian Wedding Soup has little meatballs, and since my little boy loves my meatballs, I knew he would love this soup.  I also put Orzo in the soup, to make it a hearty dinner for us all.  It was easy, and only took like 2 hours to cook from start to finish.  Make this soup, it was a real HIT!!!!

Italian Wedding Soup with Matzo Balls

2 TBS Canola oil
1 large onion diced
3 carrots peeled and cut like coins
3 stalks celery diced
2 Chicken Breasts diced uncooked
8 Cups water
3 packets of chicken bouillon or more to taste
2 tsp or more to taste salt and pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
2 TBS fresh parsley
1 cup of cooked Orzo Pasta or whatever little pasta you have in your pantry
1 envelope of Matzo Ball Mix
About 20 mini meatballs


Recipe for my Meatballs

1pounds chop meat (85% lean would do)
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
4 TBS milk
2 TBS fresh parsley
2 tsp fresh basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1  tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 TBS Parm cheese

Mix together with your HANDS......YES... you need to do this with your hands!!! Roll into tiny balls.  

Making the Soup
In a large stockpot over medium - high heat add the canola oil, and let the oil heat up, then add the onions, carrots celery, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender.  Add the uncooked chicken, and cook until no longer pink.  Add the water, and packets of bouillon, garlic powder, basil,  fresh parsley and bay leaf.  Bring to a boil, then add the UNCOOKED TINY MEATBALLS, yes you don't have to prebaked them, just drop them into the soup.  Cover and cook on med-low for about 1 hour.  Taste it, what does it need, is it well seasoned, you want a well seasoned soup!  I usually add more salt at this point, nothing like a unseasoned soup!  Cook the Orzo, and add to the soup, stir well, and simmer on the stove for about 20 minutes.

Matzo Balls - I buy the box of Matzo Ball Mix, so easy, follow the directions on the back, after preparing the mix which is so easy, it has to be chilled for 20 minutes in the frig, so plan for this, and the Matzo Balls have to boil in water for 15 minutes, before adding them to the soup.  After boiling them in water, simply add them to the soup and simmer for another 5 minutes.  ENJOY!

This what I use, so easy!

Matzo Balls cooking in water before adding them to the soup!

Helpful Hint - I made up a batch of regular meatballs last week with my sauce, and knew I was going to make to make Italian Wedding Soup this week. I just rolled some tiny meatballs and put them on a cookie sheet, put them into the freezer for about 2 hours, took them out, then into a plastic baggie, and right back into the freezer awaiting to be cooked!  SIMPLE, and thinking ahead!