Kale Orzo Pasta Soup With Turkey Parmesan Meatballs Food

ESCAROLE AND ORZO SOUP WITH TURKEY PARMESAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Whisk egg and 2 tablespoons water in medium bowl to blend. Mix in breadcrumbs; let stand 5 minutes. Add turkey, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper; gently stir to blend. Using wet hands, shape turkey mixture into 1 1/4-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on baking sheet; cover and chill 30 minutes.
• Bring 8 cups chicken broth to boil in large pot. Add carrots and orzo; reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered 8 minutes. Add turkey meatballs and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in chopped escarole and simmer until turkey meatballs, orzo, and escarole are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Rewarm over medium heat, thinning with more broth if desired.)
• Ladle soup into bowls and serve.

BAKED TURKEY AND SPINACH MEATBALLS WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 425˚ F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine half of the spinach, the onion and garlic in a food processor; pulse to make a coarse paste. Transfer all but 1/4 cup of the paste to a large bowl.
• Add the turkey, panko, egg and 1/4 cup Parmesan to the bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and mix to combine. Form into 12 meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
• Bake the meatballs until golden and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Switch the oven to broil and broil the meatballs until browned on top, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the orzo and artichokes and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the reserved 1/4 cup spinach paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; stir to coat the orzo. Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the broth is absorbed and the orzo is saucy but still al dente, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and the remaining spinach; bring to a simmer, uncovered. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach wilts but is still bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Divide the orzo among shallow bowls. Top with the meatballs.

ORZO WITH MINI SAUSAGE MEATBALLS AND KALE

Steps:

• Remove the casings from each sausage link, then pinch about 1 teaspoon sausage with your fingers and roll it into a mini meatball. Repeat with remaining sausage. (Each link should yield 10 to 13 meatballs.) Brown the meatballs in a large cast-iron, enameled cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat, until nicely browned all over, about 6 minutes total.
• Add the chicken stock to the pan along with the orzo. Cover and simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes. Lift the lid and give it a stir, making sure no pasta is sticking to the pan. Add the kale, nestle it in, then cover and simmer another 2 minutes. Lift the lid and add the juice from half the lemon (cut the remaining half into wedges). Stir and simmer until the orzo is just al dente, an additional minute or so. Season to taste with a pinch of salt if needed.
• Divide among shallow bowls and garnish with plenty of grated Parmesan, along with extra lemon wedges and parsley. And crusty bread. Always.

KALE SOUP WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Saute onion, celery and carrots with a small amount of oil over medium heat. Cook until onions are slightly transparent.
• Remove main and axial ribs and cut kale into 1 inch strips. Stir in coating entirely and saute until kale begins to relax.
• Add sugar and tomatoes and cook until all liquid is gone stirring constantly.
• Add vegetable broth and bay leaf and bring to a low boil.
• Add orzo and remaining spices and cook over medium low heat for 15 minutes.