Escarole Chicken Soup With Meatballs Recipes

EASY CHICKEN-ESCAROLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a small Dutch oven or a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper; put them in the pan, fattier side down, and cook until browned on the bottom and some of the fat has rendered out, 4 minutes. Flip the thighs over, tuck the garlic in around them and cook until the garlic is browned and aromatic, about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and simmer until the thighs are cooked through, about 12 minutes. Remove the thighs from the pot and cut into bite-size pieces.
• While the soup is cooking, cut the leaves of the escarole away from the core and wash well in cold water, especially the white part near the base, where most of the dirt collects. Tear the leaves into 2-inch pieces.
• Stir the escarole into the pot a handful at a time until it all fits, then cover and cook until tender, 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot and bring back to a simmer. Serve hot.

CHICKEN AND ESCAROLE SOUP WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In 8-quart Dutch oven or saucepot, combine chicken, onion, peppercorns, bay leaf, and 12 cups water; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 hour and 15 minutes or until chicken is tender.
• Meanwhile, prepare meatballs: In large bowl, with hands, combine ground meat, garlic, egg, parsley, pepper, 1/2 cup Romano cheese, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and milk to form a thick paste. Mix bread-crumb mixture into meat mixture just until blended. Shape meat mixture into about seventy 1-inch meatballs and place on cookie sheet; cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Remove chicken to bowl; cool until easy to handle. Discard skin and bones from chicken; cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Reserve 2 cups cut-up chicken; refrigerate remaining chicken for use another day. Pour chicken broth through sieve lined with paper towels into large bowl. Let stand a few seconds until fat separates from meat juice. Skim fat from broth and discard.
• Return broth to clean Dutch oven or saucepot; add canned chicken broth and 2 teaspoons salt; heat to boiling over high heat. Stir in carrots and celery; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Add meatballs and 1/4 cup Romano cheese; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Stir in escarole and reserved chicken; heat through. Serve with grated Romano cheese to sprinkle over each serving.

ESCAROLE AND LITTLE MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Trim the escarole and discard any bruised leaves. Cut off the stem ends. Separate the leaves and wash well in cool water, especially the center of the leaves where soil collects. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips. You should have about 4 cups.
• Combine the escarole, carrots, and stock in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the escarole is almost tender, about 30 minutes.
• To make the meatballs
• Meanwhile, combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, cheese, onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Shape the mixture into tiny balls, less than 1 inch in diameter.
• To assemble
• When the escarole is almost tender, stir in the pasta and return the soup to the simmer. Drop the meatballs into the soup. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the meatballs and pasta are cooked, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Serve hot with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.