Pork Italian

Pork and fennel meatball soup with pasta

Name: Pork and fennel meatball soup with pasta
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: /italian
Ingredients: 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle; 2 onions, finely chopped; 3-4 large garlic cloves, crushed; 1 long red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped; 3 celery stalks, very thinly sliced, plus; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh celery leaves (use the pale inner leaves); 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 3 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 1L (4 cups) chicken stock; Handful of basil leaves, roughly torn, plus extra to serve; 8 (650g) pork and fennel sausages (see notes); 1/2 cup (35g) fresh breadcrumbs; 250g ditali pasta (see notes); Sour cream (loosened with a little milk), grated parmesan and ciabatta, to serve

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25m

40m

Pork and fennel meatball soup with pasta

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by Katie Quinn Davies

Blogger and delicious. contributor

Oct 03, 2015

"Hearty and satisfying, this meatball soup has a surprising twist, and is best served with a glass of robust red." - Katie Quinn Davies.

1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
2 onions, finely chopped
3-4 large garlic cloves, crushed
1 long red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, very thinly sliced, plus
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh celery leaves (use the pale inner leaves)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1L (4 cups) chicken stock
Handful of basil leaves, roughly torn, plus extra to serve
8 (650g) pork and fennel sausages (see notes)
1/2 cup (35g) fresh breadcrumbs
250g ditali pasta (see notes)
Sour cream (loosened with a little milk), grated parmesan and ciabatta, to serve

Method

1.

Heat 1/4 cup (60ml) oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the onion and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until starting to soften. Add garlic and chilli, then cook for a further 2 minutes or until softened. Add celery and celery leaves, then cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until softened. Stir through tomato paste, then add tomatoes, stock and basil. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
2.

Meanwhile, remove the sausage meat from the casings, discarding casings, and place in a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs and mix to combine, then roll into 50 walnut-sized meatballs. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a frypan over medium-low heat. In batches, cook the meatballs for 7-9 minutes until golden and cooked though. Drain on paper towel.
3.

Using a stick blender, whiz the soup until smooth. Stir through 1 cup (250ml) water and season to taste. Simmer for a further 10 minutes until slightly reduced.
4.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain, then add to soup with meatballs and stir well to combine.
5.

Divide the soup among bowls, then drizzle with a spoonful of sour cream and some olive oil. Sprinkle with parmesan and extra basil leaves, then serve immediately with ciabatta.