Description
Comforting olive garden chicken gnocchi soup brings hearty Italian-American flavors to dinner tables across North America. Creamy spinach-studded soup delivers rich chicken and potato dumpling goodness for home cooks craving restaurant-style satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound potato gnocchi
- 2 cups cooked white meat chicken (shredded or cut into small bites)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups half and half
- 3 tbsps butter
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach (stems removed)
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- ½ cup carrots (diced)
- ½ cup celery (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- Coarse salt
- Fresh black pepper
- Fresh grated Parmesan and/or Romano (for serving)
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat butter and olive oil in a stockpot over medium temperature, creating a golden aromatic base for the soup’s flavor profile.
- Vegetable Preparation: Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables soften and become translucent, releasing their natural sweetness, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Roux Development: Sprinkle flour over softened vegetables, stirring continuously to prevent clumping and eliminate raw flour essence. Cook for 2-3 minutes to develop a rich, nutty undertone.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually whisk in chicken broth and heavy cream, creating a smooth, velvety liquid that harmonizes the soup’s components. Simmer gently to meld flavors.
- Protein and Texture Incorporation: Add shredded chicken and allow it to warm through, infusing the soup with savory depth. Introduce pre-cooked gnocchi, letting them absorb the creamy liquid.
- Final Flourish: Fold in fresh baby spinach and basil leaves, allowing them to wilt and release their aromatic essence. Adjust seasoning to taste, ensuring a balanced flavor profile.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the soup into warm bowls, crowning with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the dish’s richness and complexity.
Notes
- Boost Vegetable Flavor: Sauté vegetables slowly to develop deeper, richer taste and enhance overall soup complexity.
- Prevent Flour Lumps: Continuously stir flour into vegetables to create smooth roux without clumping, ensuring silky soup texture.
- Manage Cream Carefully: Add heavy cream gradually and avoid boiling to prevent separation and maintain creamy consistency.
- Optimize Gnocchi Timing: Add gnocchi near end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain perfect tender texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg