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1861-1900 - Italian-American immigrant families and community restaurants.
This Italian wedding soup combines flavorful meatballs, leafy greens, and small pasta in a savory broth, a comforting dish rooted in Italian-American tradition from the late 19th century.
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Difficulty
Medium
Prep time
30 minutes
Cook time
45 minutes
Total time
1 hour 15 minutes
Servings
6
Region
New York City Italian immigrant tenement and red-sauce restaurant kitchens
Era introduced
1861-1900
Introduced by
Italian-American immigrant families and community restaurants.
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Italian wedding soup enjoyed popularity among Italian immigrants in America during the late 19th century, combining inexpensive ingredients with nourishing qualities. The name refers to the 'marriage' of flavors rather than an actual wedding. This soup reflects immigrant adaptation of traditional Italian broths, meatballs, and greens to American ingredients and tastes, remaining a regional staple in Italian-American households.
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