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Home » Soup » Farro Soup with Meatballs

Published: March 23, 2017 Last Modified: May 17, 2019 By Sara 11 Comments

Farro Soup with Meatballs

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Farro Soup with Meatballs Recipe | Farro Recipe | Meatball Soup | Healthy Soup Recipe

This hearty farro soup recipe is filled with turkey meatballs, white beans and kale. It’s the perfect easy and nutritious dinner option!

I’m always up for a big bowl of soup on a chilly day, and this farro soup has become a family favorite. Serve your soup with honey cornbread or garlic knots for a complete meal.

This post is sponsored by Village Harvest. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dinner at the Zoo possible!

Farro Soup with Meatballs Recipe | Farro Recipe | Meatball Soup | Healthy Soup Recipe #soup #healthy #meatballs #farro #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A pot of farro soup with meatballs, white beans and kale.

There’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of soup, and this recipe definitely fits the bill. This farro soup features the Italian grain along with homemade turkey meatballs, white beans, tomatoes and kale. It’s healthy, chock full of flavor, and utterly delicious!

How do you make farro soup?

Let’s talk about the farro first. Farro is an ancient grain that has twice as much fiber and protein as modern day wheat. It’s pleasanty chewy, nutty, and adds a boost of nutrition to any meal. I serve it as a side dish, in salads or in soups like this one. I prefer to use Village Harvest farro. I love that all of the Village Harvest rice and grain products are globally and ethically sourced. The Village Harvest company gives back to the regions in which they source their products by donating 1% of their profits to these causes, as well as 1% of employees’ time to charity work.

Village Harvest has so many fun rice and grain varieties to try, everything from Jasmine rice and quinoa to the more exotic black rice and freekeh. Be sure to visit their online shop to check out all the varieties available.

Village Harvest Farro.

I like to make my own meatballs to go in this soup. If you’re in a pinch, store bought frozen turkey meatballs will also work. You can either broil the meatballs in the oven, or simply drop the meatballs into the soup to simmer.

A ladle full of farro soup with meatballs.

The turkey meatballs are combined with the farro, a can of tomatoes, white beans and fresh torn kale for a simple yet satisfying soup. I love all of the flavors and textures going on here, my kids enjoyed this one too! You can serve this farro soup as is, or add some garnishes like grated parmesan cheese, fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil. And don’t forget a loaf of crusty bread on the side!

Two bowls of farro soup with tomatoes, meatballs and kale.

This farro soup has gone into the regular dinner rotation at my house, it’s just that good. Sometimes I even make a double batch and freeze half for another night. There are endless ways to alter this recipe to your family’s tastes, like using italian sausage instead of meatballs, chickpeas instead of white beans, and spinach instead of kale. Regardless of how you serve it up, this farro soup will definitely be a hit!

More soup recipes

  • Albondigas Soup
  • Cabbage Roll Soup
  • Ham and Potato Soup
  • Chicken Vegetable Soup
  • Mexican Chicken Soup
This hearty farro soup recipe is filled with turkey meatballs, white beans and kale. It's the perfect easy and nutritious dinner option!
Print Pin
5 from 11 votes

Farro Soup with Meatballs

This hearty farro soup recipe is filled with turkey meatballs, white beans and kale. It's the perfect easy and nutritious dinner option!
Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 265kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground turkey 93% lean
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup Village Harvest Farro Perlato
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 can Italian style tomatoes undrained
  • 1 can white beans rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups torn kale leaves
  • 2 tablespoons parsley
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • For the meatballs: Preheat broiler. Combine all ingredients, mix until combined. Shape into small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
  • Line a sheet pan with foil and place the meatballs on the pan. Broil about 6 inches from the heat for about 8 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and have started to brown. Alternatively, you can skip the broiling and simply add the meatballs to the soup to cook them.
  • While you prepare the meatballs, start the soup. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3-5 minutes or until onion has softened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Add the chicken broth and farro to the pot; bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until farro is tender. If you're simmering your meatballs, add them after the farro has cooked for 10 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, beans and kale; cook for 5 minutes more or until kale is wilted. If you've broiled the meatballs, also stir them in at this time.
  • Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Notes

If you're pressed for time, feel free to use frozen pre-made turkey meatballs; add them to the soup when you add the farro.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 1493mg | Potassium: 709mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 17.8mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 3.4mg
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Filed Under: Quick & Easy Dinners, Soup

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    Comments

    1. Christina Pestieau says

      November 14, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      What a tasty and nutritious meal! Thank you for all the wonderful recipes that my kids always want to eat!!!!

      Reply
    2. Melissa says

      October 16, 2019 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Such a great and flavorful recipe! My family really enjoyed it!

      Reply
    3. Toni says

      October 16, 2019 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I loved it! Packed full of amazing flavors!

      Reply
    4. Lauren Kelly says

      October 16, 2019 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      We love this recipe! Sometimes we use spinach or other greens, it’s always delicious!

      Reply
    5. Rachael Yerkes says

      October 16, 2019 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      so delicious. perfect for all fall and winter

      Reply
    6. Beth Pierce says

      May 17, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      Gave this a try for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the dinner table! So full of flavor, even my picky eaters enjoyed this soup!

      Reply
    7. Adrianne says

      May 17, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow!! This is my kindof soup. I love the combination of meatballs with the farro. I also love the other ingredients like the tomatoes, can’t wait to try this dish!!

      Reply
    8. Sues says

      May 17, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum- this is totally my kind of soup!! I love those beautiful meatballs and all the other deliciousness in this soup!

      Reply
    9. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

      May 17, 2019 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never tried farro but this soup looks too amazing to pass up!

      Reply
    10. Kelly Anthony says

      May 17, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is the most perfect and easy dinner option! This farro soup with meatballs will be a hit at our house.

      Reply
    11. Debbie says

      March 23, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      This soup makes my mouth water! Can’t wait to try it this weekend!

      Reply

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