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Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting, brothy soup from Southern Italy, traditionally served at weddings and celebrations. It typically features a clear chicken or beef broth filled with small meatballs, tender leafy greens like escarole or spinach, and tiny pasta such as acini di pepe or orzo.
This soup is generally balanced, providing a good source of protein from the meatballs and vegetables, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates from the pasta. A typical serving (about 1.5 cups) contains roughly 150-250 calories, making it a relatively light yet satisfying meal.
The name 'wedding soup' is a translation of 'minestra maritata' (married soup), which poetically refers to the harmonious 'marriage' of its key ingredients—meat and greens—in the broth. Nutritionally, it's a clever way to combine protein, vegetables, and grains in a single, hydrating dish.