My mother’s recipe for this soup is combined with my own modifications. On a chilly day, it is ideal, and the next day, it is typically even better. Simply reheat it on the stove, if necessary with a little water. Because the meatballs are homemade, there is a lot of preparation, but it is well worth it. My absolute favorite soup, and it has great ingredients! My husband and children also adore it. Toast the bread before serving with Parmesan cheese.
| Prep Time: | 30 mins |
| Cook Time: | 1 hr 45 mins |
| Total Time: | 2 hrs 15 mins |
| Servings: | 8 |
| Yield: | 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- ⅛ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ tablespoon dried parsley
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 3 quarts beef broth
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3 small red potatoes, or more to taste, chopped
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped kale
- ½ cup trimmed green beans
- ¾ cup diced carrots
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound frozen cheese tortellini
Instructions
- Mix beef, pork, onion, and parsley together in a bowl. Season liberally with salt and some black pepper. Roll into small meatballs.
- Bring beef broth to a boil in a large pot. Pour in tomato sauce. Add meatballs to the boiling soup. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, skimming off oily residue occasionally, about 1 hour. Add potatoes, onion, kale, green beans, carrots, garlic, basil, and Italian seasoning; simmer until vegetables are tender, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Stir in frozen tortellini and continue to cook until heated through, about 10 minutes more.
- I use 12 cups of water mixed with 12 level teaspoons of Orrington Farms(R) beef-flavored broth base powder.
- Substitute spinach or escarole for the kale, if desired. You can use frozen green beans and fresh cheese tortellini.
- You can keep this soup in a slow cooker on Low if needed.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 432 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 42 g |
| Cholesterol | 78 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Protein | 29 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Sodium | 1612 mg |
| Sugars | 5 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |