Real Italian Wedding SOUP!?

Question

does anyone know the symbols of the wedding soup...
Like the tiny meatballs means something and the spinch mean something,chicken and then the eggs you drop in when you finish it all off what does this all mean????? DRIVING ME CRAZY ....just something I NEED too now!
Thanks!!!!!

Answer 1

The general consensus among the food people is that Italian wedding soup (originally known as Minestra Maritata or Pignato Grasso) has nothing to do with wedding ceremonies. This particular "marriage" (maritata is the Italian word for marriage) is between vegetables or depending upon the region sometimes pork and vegetables in soup. Minestra maritata is usually associated with the southern-most parts of Italy. Recipes with pork are said to have originated in Napoli. The phrase "Italian wedding soup" appears to be a recent addition to our gastronomic vocabulary. Culinary evidence confirms recipes for soups of this type were simply called (at least in American cookbooks) minestrone.

Answer 2

(L)
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

1/2 lb. meat loaf mix (ground beef and pork)
2 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. basil
1/4 c. milk

Combine the ingredients above. Form small 1/2 inch balls. Drop into boiling salted water. Simmer for 10 minutes, remove with a straining spoon, place on paper towels to drain briefly, then refrigerate.

1 stewing chicken
1 onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 carrot, thickly sliced
2 stalks celery, with leaves, cut up
1/3 teaspoon oregano
4 peppercorns
2 tsp. salt
6 qts. water

Simmer chicken with the reamining ingredients in the 6 quarts of water about 2 1/2 hours or until tender. Remove skin and bones, cut up and refrigerate. Strain broth and return to pot.
Add 1 head escarole, torn into bite sized pieces, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste. Simmer 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, break spaghetti into 4 inch long pieces and cook according to package directions; drain.

Add 1 1/2 cups prepared chicken and meatballs to broth. Simmer 10 minutes more.

Variations: White cannelloni beans may be added; ham or proscuitto may be substituted for chicken.

This freezes well and can be doubled if you have a pot large enough.

Answer 3

heres the recipe

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH MEATBALLS AND SPINACH


ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
Zuppa maritata
Naples - Campania
Preparation - Medium
Serves 4 - 6

Our version of a traditional recipe.

For the meatballs:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground veal, pork or turkey
1/4 cup bread crumbs (commercial, or grate your own from stale Italian bread)
1 egg
1 T parsley, finely chopped
1/2 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste
For the soup:
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups spinach, chopped
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
OPTIONAL: Orzo - small grains of pasta shaped like barley.
Large soup pot, baking sheet.


COMBINE the ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, minced garlic and salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Mix well with a fork and form into tiny meat balls (shown are about the size of a golf ball, but traditional meatballs are a bit smaller) with your hands.

PLACE meatballs on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes at 350F, until brown. (See ALTERNATE, below)

ABOUT ten minutes before serving, bring the chicken broth to a boil, add the spinach and cook until tender. Add the meatballs and return soup to a simmer. Stir in the Pecorino cheese and serve.

ALTERNATE: you can sauté the meatballs in olive oil until brown and procede with step 3 (above), or bring your chicken stock to a low boil, add the uncooked meatballs, simmer for about 25 minutes, add the spinach, cook until tender, stir in the cheese and serve

Answer 4

Every authentic recipe I have sees uses escarole, not spinach. Also look for nutmeg not paprika, which is Hungarian in origin.

The eggs have to be mixed with parmesean and semolina before being whisked in at the last. Similar to the Italian "egg-drop" soup Stracciatella.

Answer 5

The term "wedding soup" is a mistranslation of the Italian minestra maritata, which is a reference to the fact that green vegetables and meats go well together.

Answer 6

I remember that the eggs symbolize renewal, like a new life being started. And lamb (in the meatballs) symbolizes fertility and birth.

Of course, I heard this way back, so I might be wrong

Answer 7

the meatballs at a wedding means when the bride gets the soup, however many meatballs the bride gets mean hhow many kids she will have

Answer 8

Never knew they had meanings for each ingredient, but its really good. I'll star this Q so I can come back and find out!