Name: Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 tablespoon butter; 2 1/2 cups carrots, cut into 1/4" slices or pieces ((about 12 ounces)); 2 cups celery, cut into 1/4" slices or pieces ((about 7 ounces)); 1 cup onion, diced ((about 5 ounces)); 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley ((plus more for serving, if desired)); 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 (46-ounce) cans chicken broth ((plus more if needed - see recipe notes)); 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill ((plus more for serving, if desired)); 16 ounces escarole, roughly chopped; 1/2 cup acini de pepe ((or other very small-shaped pasta)); 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast ((about 10 to 12 ounces)); 4 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano ((plus more for serving, if desired)); lemon zest, for serving ((optional)); ground nutmeg, for serving ((optional))

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This Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta is my own hearty version of Italian egg drop soup.

Stracciatella alla romana is the egg drop soup of Italian cooking. It typically starts with a rich chicken broth, into which a beaten mixture of whole eggs and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano is streamed in to form tiny, light, and flavorful clouds. The texture and flavor of that soup is wonderful. So wonderful that it inspired me to create this awesome soup.

This is sort of a cross between Italian Wedding Soup and Stracciatella Soup.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make your own Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta…

Olive oil – My first choice is always single source extra-virgin olive oil from Italy. Less processing = healthier more delicious olive oil.
Butter – Salted butter is recommended here.
Carrots – Cut into 1/4-inch pieces or slices. I prefer the texture of fresh carrots in this soup since they hold up well during the cooking process. Frozen carrots certainly could be used, if need be.
Celery – Cut into 1/4-inch pieces or slices.
Onion – Diced. White, yellow or sweet onions may be used.
Fresh flat-leaf parsley – Chopped. The tender fresh herb is always preferred over the dried variety. Fresh parsley has a clean peppery taste with a touch of earthiness. Adds a brightness to the final dish. Save some to sprinkle over each bowl when serving.
Bay leaves – Bay leaf adds a subtle, herbal, and slightly floral flavor, with notes of thyme and oregano. Remove & discard before serving.
Salt – Finely ground table salt is fine.
Freshly ground black pepper
Chicken broth or stock – Use your favorite prepared broth or stock here. If you happen to have some homemade chicken stock on standby, by all means use that.
Fresh dill weed – Finely chopped fresh dill is recommended here for its light, bright flavor. Dried dill would not work well in this recipe. It is far more potent and can easily overpower a dish if used in excess.
Escarole – Roughly chopped. Escarole is a leafy green vegetable in the chicory family, closely related to radicchio and endive, featuring broad, slightly bitter, curly leaves.
Acini de Pepe – A tiny bead-shaped pasta. Any very small pasta can be used. I always choose pasta that is imported from Italy to avoid the toxic glyphosate found in most American-made products.
Rotisserie chicken breast – Shredded. I like the convenience of a rotisserie chicken but any cooked chicken breast meat will be fine as long as it is not laden with additional herbs, spices and/or flavorings.
Eggs – Large eggs (chilled or at room temperature) are used in this recipe.
Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano – Whenever possible, I grate my own from a block of aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
Lemon zest & ground nutmeg – Optional, for serving.

As you can see, there’s some prep on this one. But, guys …it is so worth it. If you cut your vegetables in smallish pieces, this will come together quickly. It’s a good idea to have everything chopped beforehand.

Unless you prefer to work under pressure! Then, by all means, chop as you go.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat.
Be sure to use a pot with a capacity of at least 5-quarts.
Add the carrots, celery, onion, parsley, and bay leaves along with the salt & pepper.
Cover and sauté for about 15 minutes until the carrots and celery are al dente.

Remove the cover and increase the heat to medium-high.
Add the chicken broth along with the chopped dill.
Mix well.
Bring to a boil.

Remove the bay leaves.
Add the chopped escarole to the pot and bring the mixture back to a boil.
Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes before adding the pasta.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the acini de pepe.
Simmer until the pasta is cooked to al dente, according to package directions, for about 7 to 10 minutes.

You can use any small shaped pasta here but it works best with the acini de pepe …the size and texture are just right.

A suitable substitute would be orzo or tubettini.

When the pasta is just about done, add the shredded chicken breast.
Stir to combine and continue simmering for 1 to 2 minutes.

While the chicken is heating up in the pot, whisk the eggs together with the grated parmesan in a small bowl.
Temper the egg mixture with about 1/2 cup of hot broth.

A note on the cheese. You can use parmesan or romano here. We prefer the parmesan since it contains a slightly less amount of sodium than the romano.

Make sure that the broth is at a steady simmer before you add the egg mixture.
If the broth isn’t hot enough, the eggs may incorporate into the broth instead of forming rags.
You definitely want those “rags.”
They’re like little pillows of deliciousness.
While stirring the soup constantly, slowly add the egg mixture.
Continue to stir and cook for 2 minutes.
The cooked egg will look like feathery strands.

With a spoon, rapidly mix the soup broth to create a “whirlpool” and slowly pour the egg mixture into the soup …stirring the entire time. The eggs should immediately form into “rags”.

Your Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta is ready to enjoy…

Serve immediately, topped off with freshly grated parmesan.
If desired, add a light sprinkling of lemon zest and/or ground nutmeg.
Garnish with fresh herbs.

It really is delicious just as it is but you may like to top off each serving with a light sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan, lemon zest and/or freshly ground nutmeg.

And a garnish of fresh greens is always welcome. What you see here is a combination of parsley, dill & micro greens.

This Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta is best enjoyed right away.

But don’t hesitate to make extra. It keeps well in the fridge for several days or in the freezer for several months.

Keep in mind, though, that this soup tends to thicken significantly over time. Be sure to have extra chicken broth on hand, in case it’s needed when reheating the soup.

5 from 3 votes

Chicken Escarole Soup with Egg & Pasta

Hearty version of Stracciatella Soup (Italian Egg-Drop Soup)

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Servings 8 to 10 servings

Author Rosemary Stelmach

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 1/2 cups carrots, cut into 1/4" slices or pieces (about 12 ounces)
2 cups celery, cut into 1/4" slices or pieces (about 7 ounces)
1 cup onion, diced (about 5 ounces)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (plus more for serving, if desired)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 (46-ounce) cans chicken broth (plus more if needed - see recipe notes)
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill (plus more for serving, if desired)
16 ounces escarole, roughly chopped
1/2 cup acini de pepe (or other very small-shaped pasta)
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast (about 10 to 12 ounces)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (plus more for serving, if desired)
lemon zest, for serving (optional)
ground nutmeg, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large stockpot or dutch oven with at least a 5-quart capacity over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, parsley, and bay leaves along with the salt & pepper. Cover and sauté for about 15 minutes until the carrots and celery are al dente.
Remove the cover and increase the heat to medium-high. Add the chicken broth along with the chopped dill. Mix well. Bring to a boil.
Remove the bay leaves. Add the chopped escarole to the pot and bring the mixture back to a boil. Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes before adding the pasta.
Reduce heat to medium and add the acini de pepe. Simmer until the pasta is cooked to al dente, according to package directions, for about 7 to 10 minutes.
When the pasta is just about done, add the shredded chicken breast, stir to combine and continue simmering for 1 to 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs together with the grated parmesan. Temper the egg mixture with about 1/2 cup of hot broth.
While stirring the soup constantly, slowly add the egg mixture. Continue to stir and cook for 2 minutes. The cooked egg will look like feathery strands.
Serve immediately, topped off with freshly grated parmesan. If desired, add a light sprinkling of lemon zest and/or ground nutmeg; garnish with fresh herbs.

Recipe Notes

This soup tends to thicken significantly if stored in the refrigerator. Have extra chicken broth on hand, in case it is needed when reheating the soup.

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