Stracciatella Soup

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Simple stracciatella soup is the feel-good food of the moment.

Few things are more soothing, comforting, or nostalgic than a bowl of your favorite soup, like this stracciatella soup. Its name translates to "little shred" in Italian and it's like an Italian version of egg drop soup, where eggs cook gently in broth to form thin ribbons. It’s as simple as can be and is made with just a handful of ingredients: chicken stock, eggs, parmesan cheese, parsley, and our special addition, spinach. 

Stracciatella has a very delicate flavor, which is welcome when you’ve been eating hearty soups, heavy stewed meats, and starchy vegetables. If you already have some good homemade chicken stock on hand, this soup comes together in the time it takes to crack a few eggs and warm up the stock.

Stracciatella Soup

Rachel Marek

Ingredients for Stracciatella Soup

  1. Chicken stock: Flavorful, enriched chicken stock is the base layer of flavor in stracciatella soup, so use homemade stock or a good quality store-bought brand.
  2. Eggs: The eggs will slowly poach in the warm stock and absorb that flavor. They also add a bit of protein and extra texture to the soup.
  3. Parmesan cheese: Parmesan adds some nutty flavor and saltiness to the stock. Freshly grate it yourself from a block of good Parmigiano Reggiano.
  4. Fresh parsley: As light and delicate as this soup is, a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top is always welcome.
  5. Baby spinach: Although not necessarily traditional, we like to make this soup even more fresh and healthy by stirring in a few handfuls of spinach toward the end.

This type of soup is usually served for dinner, but it's a delicious and nutritious breakfast, too.

4 Ways to Upgrade Stracciatella Soup

  • Throw in a handful of cooked shredded chicken, turkey, or mild crumbled sausage for extra protein.
  • Sauté aromatics like onion and garlic in a drizzle of olive oil before adding the stock.
  • Brighten up the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a splash of white wine vinegar.
  • Finish fresh with different herbs—mild herbs like dill or cilantro are delicious.
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Ingredients

  • 1 quart chicken stock

  • 4 large eggs

  • cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 cups baby spinach

Directions

ingredients for Stracciatella Soup

Rachel Marek

  1. Bring chicken stock to a simmer:

    Bring chicken stock to a simmer in a medium-size saucepan.

    step 1 Stracciatella Soup

    Rachel Marek

  2. Whisk egg mixture:

    Whisk together the eggs, Parmesan, parsley, and salt.

    Step 2b Stracciatella Soup

    Rachel Marek

  3. Finish cooking soup:

    Slowly pour the egg mixture into the stock while stirring. Continue to stir until the eggs are set, about 1 minute.

    Step 3a Stracciatella Soup

    Rachel Marek

    Stracciatella Soup Step 3b

    Rachel Marek

  4. Add spinach and serve:

    Add baby spinach and stir to wilt. Serve immediately.

    Step 4a Stracciatella Soup

    Rachel Marek

    Step 4b Stracciatella Soup

    Rachel Marek

Storing and Reheating Stracciatella Soup

Don't do it! Stracciatella soup is one of a handful of soups that is best served as soon as it's made. When you reheat the soup, you run the risk of overcooking the eggs. Scale the recipe back as needed to avoid leftovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between stracciatella and egg drop soup?

    Stracciatella and egg drop soup are very similar, but they are different in terms of flavor. They are both mostly comprised of chicken stock and eggs. Stracciatella is more similar to a classic American chicken noodle soup. Egg drop soup uses flavors like garlic, ginger, and soy sauce.

  • Is chicken broth or stock best for stracciatella soup?

    Stock is best for stracciatella soup. Stock is simmered for hours with roasted chicken bones and has a more intense, concentrated flavor than broth. That makes it perfect for a soup with minimal ingredients like stracciatella. We recommend using good homemade chicken stock if you can.

  • What is stracciatella in Italian?

    In Italian stracciatella has several meanings. There is the soup made with chicken broth and strands of egg. Also, a version of mozzarella that's been torn into fine shreds as part of the stretching process. And a vanilla gelato that has fine strands of chocolate mixed in. What all have in common is that they contain "little rags" which is the English translation of stracciatella.

More Easy Soup Recipes

Originally appeared: Mad Hungry, Episode 1124, Mad Hungry, Episode 1124
Updated by
Riley Wofford
riley-wofford-2018
Riley Wofford is a recipe developer, food stylist, and writer with over 15 years of experience and holds a Professional Culinary Arts diploma from the International Culinary Center. In addition to MarthaStewart.com, Riley's work can be found in TODAY.com, Delish, Food52, and Marley Spoon.

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