Sicilian Chicken Meatball Soup Food

CARRABBA'S SPICY SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot (16 quart minimum / 20 quart recommended) heat olive oil under fairly low to medium heat.
• "Sweat" onion, celery, green pepper and some salt (to draw off moisture) for perhaps 30 minutes -- this is lower than browning, and makes the veggies somewhat translucent. I covered, and mixed every few minutes to prevent browning.
• Add carrots, garlic, some white pepper and some black pepper, and continue to heat under "sweat" conditions while mixing now and then.
• Add chicken stock, chicken breasts, tomatoes and potatoes -- and of course some more white pepper and black pepper.
• Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours (or use crock pot?).
• Remove chicken and let cool and stand to shred.
• Add chopped parsley and return the shredded chicken to the soup.
• Salt to taste at this point, and add more white and black pepper if your tongue is not twitching a bit when you sample. ;-).
• Simmer while cooking ditalini (or other stubby pasta).
• Serve soup over cooked pasta to taste.
• Note: Like many soups, this may be better made the day before and then served when needed. We will freeze some for ready-made meals and I think it will work out well.

SICILIAN CHICKEN MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pot. Add chili flakes for 2 minutes. Add leeks, carrots, celery, and garlic; sweat until soft about 12 minutes. Add cans of tomato and chicken stock, bring to simmer.
• Combine beef, breadcrumbs, milk, romano, herbs, eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl. From small meatballs and add to simmering pot, do not stir. Cover and let simmer about 12 minutes.
• In a food processor add beans and water. Add to soup after meatballs simmered. Also add shredded chicken and escarole. Simmer until ready to eat.
• Serve bowls of soup with parsley and zest sprinkled over top, and extra romano if you like.

ITALIAN CHICKEN MEATBALL SOUP WITH BARLEY

Steps:

• Mix seasonings and dried herbs in a small bowl.
• Rinse barley and drain it.
• Combine barley in a large soup pot with the 9 cups of chicken broth, about HALF the herb mixture, and 3 of the cloves of crushed garlic.
• Bring to a simmer and cook covered for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the meatball ingredients and form into balls the size of walnuts in the shell (you will get 20 or more).
• When the barley/broth mixture has simmered for 30 minutes, add in the remaining 3 crushed garlic cloves, the rest of the seasonings and dried herb mixture, the meatballs, and the carrots and onion.
• Bring soup back to a low simmer, and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring gently every 10 or 15 minutes so meatballs won't stick to the bottom or break apart.
• Serve soup topped with chopped parsley and a generous handful of grated Parmesan cheese.

SICILIAN MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, 4 tablespoons of the parsley, the Parmesan, raisins, bread crumbs, egg, half the garlic, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoons pepper, until thoroughly combined. Shape into 24 meatballs.
• In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the carrots, onion, celery and the remaining garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in the broth , tomatoes, rosemary, and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoons parsley, 1/4 teaspoons pepper, and the pasta to the soup. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the meatballs and simmer until the meatballs and pasta are done, about 5 minutes longer. Serve with additional Parmesan.

MAMA MANDOLA'S SPICY SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Dice celery, carrots, onion, potatoes and bell pepper into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Chop tomatoes; reserve all juice.
• Place vegetables, tomatoes with their juice, chicken pieces, parsley and garlic in a 10-quart stockpot.
• Add water. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slowly bring soup to a boil over low heat.
• Skim off foam that rises to the surface; may have to skim 2 or 3 times.
• Partially cover pot and simmer 2 hours.
• When soup is finished, remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, mash vegetables in the bottom of the pot with the back side of a large cooking spoon or a potato masher.
• When chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove skin and bones and return meat to soup.
• Notes: Soup is best served the day after it is made. Refrigerate and remove fat that solidifies on the surface of the soup. Serve soup with rice or small, stubby pasta. For better flavor, cook the rice or pasta in the soup when reheating. Add freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, if desired.

SICILIAN MEATBALL SOUP (LOW CARB)

Steps:

• To make meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients (except the orzo) and mix well. Add the uncooked orzo, and mix again. Shape the meat mixture into 1 inch balls and set aside.
• Combine the water, bouillon granules, Italian seasoning, garlic, onions and carrots in a 4 quart pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the carrots start to soften.
• Place the undrained tomatoes in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the pureed tomatoes to the simmering broth mixture and increase the heat slightly to return the mixture to a simmer.
• Add the meatballs, a few at a time, to the simmering soup. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Add the orzo and increase the heat to medium. Cook covered for about 10 minutes or until the orzo is almost done. (Stir occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pot.).
• Add the zucchini and cook for 3 minutes more or until the zucchini is tender and the orzo is done. Add the spinach and cook for another minute or just until the spinach wilts. Serve hot.

SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Saute onion, potatoes, carrots, bell pepper, and celery in a large soup pot.
• Add stock, garlic, tomatoes, bouillon cubes, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper.
• Simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bay leaves.
• Divide soup in half, leave half in the soup pot and puree the other half in a food processor.
• Add the pureed soup back to the soup pot and stir. Add shredded chicken and parsley.
• Simmer 30 minutes.
• While the soup is simmering, boil a pot of water and cook the macaroni according to the directions on the bag. Drain and toss with olive oil until lightly coated.
• Ladle soup into individual bowls and add macaroni to taste. Add parmesan cheese to taste and enjoy! (number of servings is approximate).