Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

When we go to Joe’s parents’ restaurant, I am always craving Italian Wedding Soup. Because I haven’t incorporated much meat into my diet, besides fish, I usually stay away from the Italian Wedding Soup. As a side note, I have been eating a little meat because I have actually had cravings for it. I think if your body is craving something, you should fill the crave. I definitely think that means your body is telling you something, so listen up! Anyway, I wanted to make a soup that would be similar to the one at the restaurant, but one that didn’t include meat. First thing that came to mind was tempeh. I crumbled the tempeh making it represent the meatballs in the regular Italian Wedding Soup. I also added carrots and celery, which I know aren’t typical of Italian Wedding Soup. Still, it tasted good and totally hit the spot when you have a craving for Italian Wedding Soup sans the meat.

Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup pasta (pastina or I used pinwheels)
• 8 ounces fresh spinach
• 1/2 package tempeh, crumbled
• sprinkle of parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. In large Dutch oven, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil on medium heat 2 minutes.
2. Add garlic, onion, carrots, celery, basil and oregano.
3. Stir and heat 5 minutes.
4. Add vegetable broth and water and pasta.
5. Simmer on medium heat until pasta is soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, in saute brown crumbled tempeh in 1 Tbsp olive oil.
7. Add spinach and tempeh to pot, stirring well to wilt spinach.
8. Serve with sprinkle of parmesan cheese (optional if not vegan).
9. ENJOY!