Escarole Soup
Escarole Soup with Mini Chicken Meatballs. If you’ve checked out our thanksgiving menu this season you’ve definitely noticed this soup being mentioned. When we talk about our “Italian thanksgiving soup tradition” this is it! This has always been part of our thanksgiving traditions and we can’t imagine a thanksgiving dinner without it. We always start the meal with this soup as our appetizer, and it has definitely never disappointed! It brings back so many childhood memories for both of us which makes the tradition even more special! What different traditions does your family have on thanksgiving?!
Thanksgiving is all about traditions which is why it is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s like you’re getting in the Christmas spirit, decorating, listening to Christmas music, but when its thanksgiving you still have the whole season ahead! And that means more traditions to come. But, our thanksgiving traditions are some of my favorite. This soup definitely fits on the list of favorites!
Every year we start off dinner with the soup. It gets the dinner going, the wine flowing, and it always brings back a ton of childhood memories for us. Watching my mom and mommom make every single mini chicken meatball with such diligence is a thanksgiving memory I surely will never forget and plan to carry with me throughout my life.
I also LOVE how unique this soup is to our family. It is a tradition, that I only know as one specific to my family. I am sure there are more Italians out there who carry on this tradition as well, but I have yet to meet any. Let us know your family traditions, and if this is one of yours as well we would love to share the tradition with you!
Ingredients:
Mini Chicken Meatballs
5 slices of white sandwich bread; torn into small pieces
1/4 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
2 jumbo eggs
1 1/2 pounds of ground chicken
salt and pepper
1/2 cup of dried breadcrumbs
Fried Bread Croutons
6 slices of white sandwich bread
4 eggs; scrambled
2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
salt to taste
1/2 cup of canola oil
Soup
2-3 quarts of homemade or store bought chicken stock
1 head of escarole; chopped
1 1/2 pounds of mini chicken meatballs
1/2 pound of egg noodles; homemade or store bought
Fried bread croutons
Directions:
Mini Chicken Meatballs
In a large bowl, add the bread, milk, eggs, and cheese, Stir to combine. Mix in the ground chicken, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Continue stirring and add the dried breadcrumbs.
Roll mini meatballs and transfer to oiled parchment paper. Set aside.
Fried Bread Croutons
Mix the egg, cheese, and salt in a shallow bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small skillet. When very hot, dip the bread in the egg mixture and add to the skillet. Fry on each side until golden. Drain on paper towels. Cut into cubes.
Soup
Heat the chicken broth until boiling and add the escarole. Continue boiling and add the meatballs. They will rise to the top when they are cooked.
Cook the noodles, drain, and add to the soup. Serve topped with fried bread croutons.
