Friday, November 6, 2009

Chicken Meatball and Tortellini Noodle Soup



The title is a mouthful I know! We had roasted chicken last Sunday and being the obsessive twit I am, I had to make chicken stock from the leftovers. I remember seeing Tyler Florence (he is mine Donna, so stay away), make this amazing soup and I wanted to try it!

It is a bit labor intensive, but not so much if you have freshly made stock on hand, which I obviously did. I will give you the recipe as he wrote it just in case you are not an obsessive twit, who spends her days boiling chicken bones!

I doubled the meatballs, vegetables and tortellini and made a huge pot of this soup, and I had about a gallon and a half of chicken stock.

Ingredients: Chicken Meatballs

4 links organic chicken-apple sausage meat, or equivalent ground chicken meat
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs (2 slices of fresh white bread ground up)
1/2 cup whole milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup grated parmigiano reggiano, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil

Ingredients: Soup

3 cloves garlic, smashed
2 large carrots, cut into circles
1 medium onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
4 black peppercorns1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 lb cheese tortellini, store bought
kosher salt
1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
grated Parmesan for top of soup

1 crusty baguette, to serve with the soup

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Take a large mixing bowl and add loose ground chicken meat (discard cases if using sausages), breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan.

Season with salt and pepper then mix until fully combined.

Using an small scoop, make balls and set out on a roasting tray. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan.

Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and caramelised.

While the meatballs are cooking make the soup.

Set a large stock pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, garlic and thyme and gently saut̩ until fragrant Рabout 2 minutes.

Add carrots, onion and celery, season with salt and cook for 5-7 minutes.

Pour in chicken broth and add peppercorns, parsley and bay leaf. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes.

Once meatballs are cooked, scrape into the pot of chicken soup and add tortellini so everything is back in the pot.

Bring to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.

Give it a final season with salt and pepper and serve in shallow bowls with a small shower of parsley and grated Parmesan.

17 comments:

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

beautiful soup... and don't you love making stock!

Foodiewife said...

Tyler is yours, huh? We shall debate who had her bare shoulder touched by him? J/K. By now, you know that I made a ton of chicken stock. I make tortellini soup, often, because it's so easy and good-- like those meatballs, though! I'd love to see you submit this to Souper Sundays. It's a great soup to share.

Pam said...

I just made a big pot of stock too. The soup looks hearty and delicious.

Denise said...

Cheryl, this looks very yummy. My kids might even eat that!!!

Bethie said...

Won't fight you for Tyler, but I might for a bowl of that soup. It looks gooooood.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

You are the woman Cheryl! Making your own stock. this soup looks fabulous. I want to make this one, my non-soup eating child would definitely eat this.

Love your new profile pic!

Kathleen said...

I love the chicken meatballs. The combo of chicken sausage and ground chicken is brilliant. This soup looks, honestly, amazing!

teresa said...

this sounds fantastic! i love the meatballs!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Meatballs and tortellini two of my favorites! Looks wonderful!

rho said...

you mean there are people who don't do that to chicken bones-- gasp - what they are missing for just a little bit of effort .....

soup recipe saved for next time I have roast chicken (like next week) thanks

Debbie said...

Looks great. I think that would be a big hit in my house. My son loves tortellini and so do I!

Heather said...

this looks delicious! i love tortellini in soup!!!

Unknown said...

I bet that was good!

Sophia said...

Oh...what a great bowl of soup, Cheryl! It looks perfect for a cold Autumn night...slurp~ and burp~ ;-)

Donna-FFW said...

Only because I love you so very much, will I let you have him. Who am I kidding with food like yours, he'd choose you anyway, this sounds incredible.

Donna-FFW said...

Only because I love you so very much, will I let you have him. Who am I kidding with food like yours, he'd choose you anyway, this sounds incredible.

Mini Baker said...

You make the BESTTT soups!
-Mini Baker

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