Greek-Style Spinach Soup

Serves 6-8

Note from the Chef

This soup is a cross between Greek chicken soup and Italian wedding soup. Bless those Mediterranean cooks!

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 2 lbs lean ground beef or turkey
• ¼ cup onion, scallion or shallot, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 1 tsp dry basil
• 1 tsp dry oregano
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup panko or bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten

Soup

• 1 medium to large sweet onion, sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2-4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp flour (optional)
• 2 tsp dry oregano
• 1 tsp dry basil (or 1 tbsp fresh)
• 2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 36 mini-meatballs, cooked
• 3 boxes frozen chopped spinach (thawed)
• 2 eggs, well beaten (optional)
• Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Lemon-infused olive oil (optional)

Preparation

Meatballs

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Combine all meatball ingredients except the meat.
3. Add meat and combine.
4. Using a small (1 ounce) ice cream scoop, scoop out meatballs. Round the balls with your hands, then place on a baking sheet. (Should yield 36 mini-meatballs.)
5. Bake for 10 minutes. Reverse the pan and cook 5 minutes more.
6. Allow to cool before serving. Extras can be frozen for future use.

Soup

1. In a large soup pot, sauté onion in olive oil until soft but not brown. Add salt and pepper about one minute into the process.
2. Add garlic and flour (optional). Add oregano and basil. Cook for one minute or so.
3. Slowly add chicken broth, stirring to avoid lumps. Add lemon juice and zest, and the cooked meatballs. Cook for 15-20 minutes on low heat.
4. Raise heat, add thawed spinach, and bring to a boil.
5. Optional: Slowly add beaten eggs. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with lemon-infused olive oil.
6. Pour soup into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Information

• Net carbohydrates: 6g

Recipe from Ward Alper, the Decadent Diabetic.

Photo by Rooey202

In the event you find this recipe inappropriate for diabetics, please contact us and we will review your suggestions.