Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 small leeks, cleaned + sliced
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 5 carrots, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt & pepper, plus more for seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 14 oz. can roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 heaping tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 quarts chicken bone broth
- 2 small zucchinis, diced
- 2 large handfuls fresh spinach
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese, about 1 cup
For the meatballs
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 heaping tablespoon tapioca flour (or regular flour, gf flour or arrowroot flour)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large heavy stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the leeks, onions, carrots, salt and pepper. Sauté until the leeks and onions are softened – about 4-6 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minutes.
- Add roasted tomatoes, Italian seasoning and broth. Bring to a simmer and turn heat to low. Cook for 8 minutes or until the carrots are softened.
- Add zucchini after it simmers for 4 minutes – if using. Add the spinach at the very end when the heat is turned off and mix to combine. This is when you add the meatballs or ground pork Italian sausage – if using.
- Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese and bread.
To make the meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients together using a fork or your hands. Using a small ice cream scoop – scoop the meatball mixture making mini balls. Place them on a baking sheet. Cook for 6-8 minutes and remove from oven. Let sit until needed.
Notes
**You can also use Italian Sausage and just break it up while cooking it and add when I add the meatballs – at the end. Tastes great too!
**using vegetable stock will chance the flavor profile of the stew – if you are vegetarian you will know this.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 2-
- Category: soup
- Method: stove-top
- Cuisine: dinner