10.14.2012

Ditalini Italian Soup for #SundaySupper

Comfort food: the theme of this week's #SundaySupper and a favorite kind of food for me to make. People gravitate towards chili, mac-n-cheese and soups and I get all kinds of giddy. This week I decided to make Ditalini Italian Soup. The classic Italian flavors of oregano, basil and garlic really lend themselves to making this dish great.


Comfort food to me means a dish that brings you joy and reminds you of the place and time in which youfirst ate it. More often than not, I see comfort food as a dish you want me to make time and time again, that's easy and a joy to cook, and also a pleasure to serve to others. I created this soup a long while ago and cook it on a regular basis for our household of two. 


I like to make my own meatballs for the dish when I have the time, but the reason it's such a go-to meal for me is because it can be made with no fuss and almost no clean up. This is where the frozen meatballs come into play and, more often than not, this is how I make the soup, so frozen meatballs is the ingredient that made it into the recipe. After all, I have to leave my fabulous meatball recipe for another time, right?



Ingredients:

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can diced tomatoes with juice (I use the ones seasoned with basil and oregano)

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 cans reduced sodium chicken broth

1 tbsp Italian Seasoning

A couple of dashes of Texas Pete hot sauce

A pinch of red pepper flakes

Meatballs (I am a really big fan of the frozen Armour Italian-style meatballs, for a quick meal)

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cup Ditalini pasta

Couple pinches of salt

Pinch of dried oregano 

Pinch of dried basil

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes, adding a little bit of salt.

Add the garlic to the pan and saute together with the onions for 1 minute. Then add the meatballs, can of diced tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and dashes of hot sauce. Simmer for 15 minutes.

While still simmering, add the Parmesan cheese and Ditalini pasta and continue to simmer another 15 minutes.

Remove pan from stove top, add dried oregano and basil. I like to also add some freshly grated Pecorino Romano, but that's just preference.

*****

Now, below you'll find all the links to the fabulous dishes that other #SundaySupper participants have cooked up. Be sure to visit because the yum-yums are endless! :)


Comfort Food |Soups
Comfort Food  | Main Dish
Comfort Food | Desserts
Pairing Wine with Sunday Supper Comfort Food Favorites! by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog 



43 comments:

Bubbe Bites said...

I love frozen meatballs too. Get help anywhere you can. Your soup looks wonderful. It is one of my favorites.

Tammi said...

I am totally putting this on my list, I'm comforted just by reading it! Happy #SS

Baker Street said...

wow! just wow! that is a bowl of comfort right there!

Unknown said...

This soup certainly looks like a bowl of comfort. Beautiful photos too!

Jen @Juanitascocina said...

This sounds amazing! The flavors sound huge and comforting!

Katie said...

This sounds like a delicious dish! I love making soups once the temps cool around here: must put this one on my list as well! ;)

Arlene@FlourOnMyFace said...

Oh my your soup looks so good! I've never used frozen meatballs before but I am going to look for these to try out.

Tara said...

Oh my stars, now I am starving!! Haven't had breakfast yet and this soup just did me in! Gorgeous!

Unknown said...

I am so glad you joined us and shared this beautiful recipe during #SundaySupper. Gorgeous.

Paula @ Vintage Kitchen said...

Italian flavors in a soup, oh I love it! The meatballs are perfect for it!

Comfy cuisine said...

This is my kind of food! Fabulous photos Jennifer!

Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom) said...

Lovely photos! I almost always have a reserve of meatballs in the fridge. This recipe sounds and looks great!

Anne @ Webicurean said...

oh, yum! I feel as if I'll be making #SS soups all week--and I hardly know where to begin!

Unknown said...

I haven't tried frozen meatballs...I will get the ones you recommend and try them with this soup recipe because it sounds just so good (and comforting too).

Unknown said...

OMG! I freaking LOVE this! looks so good! I just printed the recipe and am definitely going to give this one a try! Thanks for sharing. . is this your first time joining us for Sunday Supper?! so glad I found your blog! :)

Leslie Harris said...

I keep heading my head on my computer screen trying to smell the oregano, basil, and garlic in this beautiful soup. Will be looking forward to your meatball recipe.

Bea @ The Not So Cheesy Kitchen said...

This soup looks wonderful. Pasta, tomatoes, and meatballs = comfort in a bowl.

Jennie @themessybakerblog said...

I seriously cannot wait to try this delicious looking soup. You're making my mouth water. Yum! Pinned.

Unknown said...

What a comforting dish, love it!

Hezzi-D said...

I'm a sucker for pasta and adding it to a soup looks delicious.

Megan said...

Yummy Jen! Perfect first #SundaySupper post :) Beautiful photos too!

Kim Bee said...

Oh my gosh, is it bad I just want to high board dive right smack into the middle of the bowl. This is beautiful. I can almost smell it.

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts said...

Oh yum, what a perfectly comforting bowl of soup. Love the frozen meatball shortcut, and the little toasts look so perfect on the side.

Anonymous said...

This sounds wonderful! I will have to make it soon! Thanks for sharing.

Amber @ Mamas Blissful Bites said...

Seriously, your photos are so beautiful, I wanted to jump in and eat your soup! Thank you so much for sharing. I know my family would love this.

The Wimpy Vegetarian said...

This is right up my alley!! I even have some ditalini pasta. I just got back from a month in Italy and going through major pasta withdrawal. I'm definitely making this soup this week :-)

FamilySpice said...

Oh, this is heavenly! I swear I must be part Italian - I adore Italian food!!

Laura Hunter said...

This looks so hearty. Perfect for this cold, rainy weather we have been having

Tammi said...

Do you think I could make this with homemade meatballs? Would I cook it longer? I'd like to try it and I happen to have ground turkey :)

diabeticFoodie said...

Love this soup! Can't wait until the weather cools off a bit so I can try it.

Sarah said...

I love an Italian flavored soup with pasta and agree it's perfect comfort food! This recipe would also be a perfect contribution to the Shine Supper Club (our theme this month is pasta). Hope you'll join us.

Tammi said...

Just finished this! Loved it!! Hubby even liked the kick it had. I made my own meatballs, WOW...thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Yummy! Looks awesome :) I love Italian flavors and pasta especially in my soups! yum.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Oh, this is fantastic! What perfect comfort food for a chilly autumn eve. I love meatballs and this is another yummy way to work them into our menu! Great #Sunday Supper dish~

Martin D said...

Wow this soup looks amazing - thick and rich - just how I like em! Definitely saving to my recipe file!

Unknown said...

Oh this looks fantastic! I love using ditalini in soups :)

Heather S-G said...

Nothing like a good bowl of soup to bring comfort...this sounds lovely!

Sarah said...

I like the word ditalini. It's such a cute word. And this soup looks amazing. I love a good soup in the fall. Nothing makes you feel more warm and cozy than a bowl of great soup. Pasta too but you have pasta in the dish so you covered all your bases.

Angie - Big Bears Wife said...

I have recently fallen in love with Ditalini pasta! I love it in everything and this soup is just beautiful! Pinning it now!

Carla said...

This def looks like a big bowl of comfort! I'm half Italian too, so I love the flavors. Only change I would make after reading is add more garlic ;)

Mama.Mommy.Mom. said...

This puts me in mind of a tomato based Italian Wedding Soup (which I totally love!) It looks really yummy!

Jamie @ www.mamamommymom.com

Sunithi Selvaraj, RD said...

ooh ! This looks so good ! Feel like diving right in :) Yummm ! Love the blue towel. Adds a touch of warmth !

Amanda said...

I wish I had a giant bowl of this right now!

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