Italian Meatball and Kale Soup

After making those brownie batter bites, I feel a little strange posting this healthy soup recipe.

This is the complete opposite of those triple chocolate treats, but this soup is just as good?in its own way.

And that?s what it?s all about, right? Balancing chocolate with kale and whole wheat couscous. Or that?s what my life is, anyways.

I dreamt of making big bowls of Italian Wedding Soup and then, in the middle of cooking, realized that I really don?t know what Italian Wedding soup is. I was just sure that this wasn?t it.

Do you ever do that? Think you know what a certain dish is and then realize that you really have no idea?

This isn?t the first time it?s happened to me.

Maybe it?s not what I planned, but this soup turned out tasty.

And while we?re finally getting some warmer winter weather, I?ll never turn down a good bowl of soup ? no matter what the temperature is outside.

Italian Meatball and Kale Soup

Meatballs

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 egg
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Soup

1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
4 stalks celery, diced
4 cups broth
1 cup whole wheat couscous
1 bunch (about 4-5 cups kale), chopped into bite size pieces
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
parmesan, for topping


Heat large pot over medium heat.
Add carrots, onion, and celery and let cook 5-10 minutes, until softened.
While veggies are cooking, mix together the meatball mixture and shape into quarter-sized meatballs.
Add broth to veggie mixture and bring to a boil.
Lower broth to a simmer and add couscous.
While couscous is cooking, heat skillet over medium heat and cook meatballs in batches, browning on all sides until cooked.
As each batch of meatballs is browned, add them to the broth mixture until all the meatballs are in the soup.
Stir in kale and let soup simmer 5-10 minutes to let the kale soften and the meatballs to cook through.
Serve, topped with parmesan cheese.

 

Thank you for all the notes and emails about the new look – I?m super excited about it and am so happy that you are too!