We all want a taste of Italy at home—but who has the time, talent, or money to actually whip up those impressive dishes? All it takes is one trip to an authentic Italian restaurant to see what’s in store, and heading back to our own kitchens often makes us question our culinary talents.
As crazy as it sounds, even novice chefs can put together legitimate Italian cuisine, all without spending an arm and a leg. ‘Tis the season, and now that there’s snow on the ground and a drip in our nose, it’s time to seek comfort from our very own kitchens. These delicious soups not only taste great, but are actually easy to make. Grab your spoon and come with us on a first-class ticket to the motherland!
Stracciatella
It might be hard to pronounce, but that doesn’t mean it’s hard to make! Otherwise known as Italian Egg Drop Soup, this classic dish doesn’t need anything more than broth, eggs, cheese, and a bit of spinach. (Don’t worry, you can also toss in a few other ingredients to really make this your own).
First and foremost, you need either beef or chicken broth for your base. Once it boils, you’ll add an egg and Parmesan cheese mixture into the pot, along with your spinach, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. The result is white stracciatella (or “little shreds”) of egg and cheese floating around. Try not to let the presentation bump you; it looks simple, but it packs all kinds of flavor.
If you’re looking to kick it up a notch, some people add tortellini or ravioli to the mix. Boiling them won’t take much more than a few minutes, so you’ll still have a steaming bowl of comfort food in just under half an hour. It makes a surprisingly filling vegetarian dish, but you can also toss a little chicken in there, too, for added protein!
Minestrone
Minestrone looks more like a fall dish; it has all the vibrant colors of our favorite season, not to mention the comfort of a hearty soup. But it’s time we gave this one its wintertime due, especially since it’s a versatile bowl that uses up anything in the pantry!
Classic minestrone calls for more than stracciatella. You’ll need celery, vegetable stock, beans, EVOO, and a healthy amount of seasoning to bring out this dish’s character. The good news is that those ingredients aren’t set in stone, and many home chefs ditch carrots for onions, use chickpeas over kidney beans, or opt for barley instead of mini noodles. Either way, it’s all done in under an hour!
First-timers might want to stick with more traditional recipes, but once you’re more familiar with that soup pot, you can start experimenting. Much like stracciatella, minestrone is typically vegetarian, but nothing’s stopping you from adding a bit of sausage or ground beef.
Pappa al Pomodoro
Is thick broth more your cup of soup? Boy, do we have the dish for you! Say hello to pappa al pomodoro, a traditional recipe that packs tomato, chicken stock, and red pepper flakes into one scrumptious bowl—oh, and a surprise ingredient.
In addition to the aforementioned ingredients, you’ll also need the usual suspects: garlic, onion, whole tomatoes, and fresh sprigs of basil. However, the real star of the show is the bread, stale bread to be exact. Yes, you read that right! Stale rustic bread actually works as the thickening agent here, providing you with an amazing roux that doesn’t require any added effort.
The next time that baguette goes a little hard, don’t just toss it—give it a second chance! In about 40 minutes, you’ll have a classic Tuscan dish that ensures nothing goes to waste. (If you don’t have any stale loaves at home, fresh works just fine).
Italian Wedding Soup
If this doesn’t put you in the mood to get married, nothing will. Italian wedding soup is a lot easier to make than it seems, often only requiring a handful of ingredients and just under an hour of your time from start to finish.
The soup itself is nothing more than broth, spinach, and tiny noodles; the meat is where people usually skip a couple of steps. Lucky for you, there’s nothing wrong with that! Plenty of cooks make their own meatballs for this little guy, but we won’t fault you for sticking the frozen stuff in there. If you’re trying to shave a few minutes off the clock, there’s no better way to do it.
Authentic cuisine doesn’t have to break the bank—it doesn’t have to make you tear out your hair either. With a little seasoning and a cupful of noodles, you can recreate some of the best bowls from your favorite haunts (just make sure you have enough for everyone)!
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