Equipment
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 45 ml olive oil
- 150 g carrot, coarsely chopped
- 450 g broccoli, stalks peeled and chopped; heads cut into small florets
- 3 garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1900 ml chicken stock
Pasta and Protein
- 225 g orecchiette
- 450 g hot italian sausage, casings removed
Seasoning and Garnish
- 10 g kosher salt
- 2 g black pepper, to taste
- 50 g parmesan, freshly grated
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 588 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbohydrates
- 46 g
- Fat
- 35 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Sodium
- 1467 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 11 g
- Trans Fat
- 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 17 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 5 g
- Cholesterol
- 69 mg
- Potassium
- 660 mg
- Calcium
- 232 mg
- Iron
- 3.7 mg
- Magnesium
- 47 mg
- Phosphorus
- 258 mg
- Zinc
- 2.5 mg
- Vitamin A
- 299 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 83 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0.1 mcg
- Vitamin E
- 2.2 mg
- Vitamin K
- 102 mcg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B12
- 1.0 mcg
- Thiamin
- 0.10 mg
- Riboflavin
- 0.37 mg
- Niacin
- 6.1 mg
- Folate
- 63 mcg
- Water
- 542 g
Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central
Method
Fill a medium saucepan with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil at 100°C (212°F).
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped carrots, broccoli stems, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the vegetables for 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir occasionally to prevent the garlic from burning.
Pour the chicken stock into the Dutch oven and bring the liquid to a boil.
Lower the heat and simmer the broth for 5 to 7 minutes. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
Add the orecchiette to the boiling water in the saucepan. Cook until al dente, then drain through a colander and divide into 5 bowls.
Use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to scoop small amounts of sausage. Drop the sausage pieces and broccoli florets into the simmering broth.
Return the soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until the sausage reaches 74°C (165°F) and broccoli is bright green.
Ladle the soup and meatballs over the cooked pasta in each bowl. Top with grated parmesan cheese and serve.
Chef's Notes
- For the most flavorful meatballs, ensure your Italian sausage is of good quality and has a balanced spice profile. You can also add a pinch of fennel seeds to the raw sausage for an extra layer of authentic Italian flavor.
- Don't overcrowd the Dutch oven when sautéing the aromatics. This ensures they soften and release their flavors rather than steam, leading to a more robust broth base.
- When forming the mini meatballs, using a small measuring spoon (like a 1/2 teaspoon) ensures consistent size, which means they will cook evenly and at the same rate as the broccoli.
- To achieve a clear broth, avoid vigorously stirring the soup once the meatballs and broccoli are added. Gentle simmering is key.
- Taste and adjust seasoning throughout the cooking process, especially after simmering the broth. The saltiness of the sausage and the chicken stock can vary.
Storage
Refrigerator: 4 days — Store pasta separately from broth to prevent it from absorbing all the liquid.
Freezer: 3 months — Freeze broth and meatballs only; add fresh pasta when reheating.
Reheating: Heat in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering.
Troubleshooting
Broccoli florets are mushy and dull in color
Cause: The florets were simmered for too long.
Fix: Cannot be fixed; remove from heat immediately.
Prevention: Only add the florets during the final 5 minutes of cooking.
Pasta is soggy and has absorbed all the broth
Cause: Pasta was added directly to the soup pot for storage.
Fix: Add a splash of extra chicken stock when reheating to restore the liquid.
Prevention: Always store the pasta and broth in separate containers.
Cultural Context
This mini meatball soup draws inspiration from classic Italian comfort food, particularly the tradition of hearty soups and pasta dishes. While not a specific regional dish, it embodies the Italian approach to simple, flavorful ingredients combined to create a satisfying and wholesome meal, perfect for family dinners.
