Wedding Soup "Marries" Contents

The term "wedding soup" is a mis-translation of the Italian language phrase, minestra mariata ("married soup")which is a reference to the fact that green vegetables and meats go well together. Wedding soup consists of green vegetables (usually endive and escarole or cabbage, lettuce, kale and/or spinach) and meat (usually meatballs and/or sausage) in a clear chicken-based broth. Wedding soup sometimes contains cavatelli, acini di pepe, pastina, orzo, other pasta, lentils or shredded chicken.

Contrary to popular belief, the concensus among informed food people is that Italian wedding soup (originally known as Minestra Maritata or Pignato Grasso) has nothing to do with wedding ceremonies. This particular "marriage" (maritata is the Italian word for marriage) is between vegetables, or, depending upon the region, sometimes pork and vegetables, in soup. The phrase "Italian wedding soup" appears to be a recent addition to our gastronomic vocabulary. Culinary evidence confirms recipes for soups of this type were simply called (at least in American cookbooks) minestrone.

Minestra maritata is thought to be based upon ancient Roman soup traditions. Although we do not find recipes with this exact name referenced by Apicius (Ancient Roman cooking text) or Platina (On the Right Pleasure and Good Health, 1475 Italian cook book) there is ample evidence of the existence of vegetable soup during these times. The minestra mriata recipe is also prepared by the families of Lazio and Campania during the Christmas season (a tradition started from the Spanish domination of Italy to the present days). Some form of minestra maritata was long popular in Toledo, Spain, before pasta became an affordable commodity to most Spaniards. The modern wedding soup is quite a bit lighter than the old Spanish form, which contained more meats than just the meatballs of modern Italian-American versions.

At one time the minestra term referred to any first course, but today it refers to soup, specifically one with pieces of vegetable or grain in broth. From the word, minestare (to administer), probably because the food was portioned out as the only dish served at a meal. Minestra has a more liquid consistency than zuppa, which is often poured over roasted or fried stale bread.

Wedding ceremony, or not, Italian Wedding Soup can take the chill out of any winter’s day. Check out Frontier’s Italian Wedding Soup at the O’Meagher Farms website.