Light Italian Wedding Soup

To balance my cupcake intake {like that is even possible!}, I try to make changes to family favorites that lower the fats, carbs and bad “stuff” in the original recipes. I was in line at the grocery store the other day and saw the January/February issue of Everyday Food {Martha Stewart} and this issue boasted that “IT’S ALL LIGHT!”. That caught my eye not only because I am a huge Martha Stewart fan, but this would fit in with my renewed attempts at smarter eating.

The first recipe I tried, last night in fact, was the Light Italian Wedding Soup, recipe below. It was delicious and I actually preferred it, as did my family, to traditional wedding soup. On a scale of 1 to 10, this recipe is a 10.

The original recipe served 6 but I always make extra usually doubling recipes but I am listing the original, serves 6 recipe, below.

Light Italian Wedding Soup

1 pound 93% lean dark-meat turkey-I used a blend of light and dark

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

course salt and ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 cans {14.5 ounces each} reduced sodium chicken broth

2 cans {14.5 ounces each} diced tomatoes in juice

2 heads escarole {2 pounds total}, cored, trimmed, and coarsely chopped

1. In a bowl, combine turkey, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Using 1 tablespoon for each, roll mixture into balls.
2. In large pot, heat oil over medium.  Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.  Add broth and tomatoes {with juice}; bring to a simmer.  Add meatballs; cook, without stirring, until meatballs float to surface, about 5 minutes.
3. Add as much escarole to pot as will fit.  Cook gradually adding remaining escarole, until wilted and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes more.  Thin soup with water if desired; season with salt and pepper.  Serve soup sprinkled with more Parmesan.

Per serving:  250 calories; 9.8 g. fat (3 g. sat. fat); 23.6 g. protein; 19.3 g. carb; 4.8 g. fiber

hugs, mb.

I joined the Blessed with Grace-Tempt My Tummy Tuesday blog carnival with this recipe…this week Lisa has some amazing chocolate cake and frosting recipes just in time for Valentine’s day!!!!