Parmesan wakes up meatball soup

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2006

“Rapido,” indeed, but 30 minutes well spent by the cook packs plenty of flavor and substance into this tasty dish.

The proof is in the eating for Italian meatball soup rapido, a main-course dish you can make with this recipe from Gourmet magazine.

Only 10 minutes of active time is called for, and the cook can take advantage of shortcuts such as frozen chopped onions and refrigerated or frozen precooked meatballs.

It takes hardly any extra time to add savory Parmigiano-Reggiano, the premium Parmesan cheese, to enrich the canned broth – the cheese is a key ingredient for this quickly made, warming and delicious meal in a bowl.

Italian meatball soup rapido

1/4cup olive oil

1cup frozen chopped onions (about 6 ounces)

4garlic cloves, chopped

1celery rib, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

2carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

51/4cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (42 fluid ounces)

21/2cups water

20refrigerated or frozen precooked meatballs (15 to 20 ounces; do not thaw if frozen)

214-ounce cans small white beans, drained and rinsed

15- to 6-ounce bag baby spinach, coarsely chopped

1/2cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Accompaniment: finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 5- to 6-quart pot over high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onions, garlic, celery and carrots, stirring occasionally, until onions are pale golden, about 4 minutes. Stir in broth and water and bring to a boil, covered.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute meatballs (do not thaw if frozen), turning occasionally, until browned all over, about 3 minutes.

Add meatballs to soup along with beans, and briskly simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and meatballs are heated through, about 15 minutes. Stir in spinach, cheese, salt and pepper and simmer, uncovered, until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute. Makes 4 servings.