This gnocchi spinach soup is one of those dishes ideal for warming the soul on a winter day. This is similar to an Italian wedding soup but creamy with meatballs and potato gnocchi. I make my own chicken stock and meatballs, but you can use store-bought.
Ingredients
- olive oil: 2 Tbsp (or as needed)
- yellow onion: 1 piece (diced)
- garlic: 4 clove (minced)
- low-sodium chicken broth: 4 cans (32 ounce cans)
- bay leaf: 1 piece
- italian seasoning: 2 tsp
- sea salt: 0.5 tsp
- ground black pepper: 0.25 tsp
- Potato gnocchi: 2 packages (17.5 ounce packages)
- escarole: 2 cups (thinly sliced)
- carrot: 1 piece (shredded)
- half-and-half: 1 cup
- ounces fresh baby spinach leaves: 6 piece
- fresh basil or Italian parsley: 2 Tbsp (minced)
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese: 0.25 cup (or more if needed, for serving)
- ¼ pounds ground beef: 1 piece
- egg: 1 piece (beaten)
- Italian seasoned bread crumbs: 0.25 cup
- Parmesan cheese: 2 Tbsp (grated)
- onion powder: 1 tsp
- italian seasoning: 1 tsp
- Worcestershire sauce: 1 tsp
- garlic salt: 0.75 tsp
- black pepper: 0.25 tsp
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat and sauté onion in hot oil until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and pepper; bring slowly to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
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Meanwhile, prepare meatballs: Combine ground beef, beaten egg, bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Roll mixture into tiny 1/2-inch meatballs.
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Drop meatballs carefully, one at a time, into simmering soup in the pot. Bring to a slow simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Skim off any foam that comes to the surface with a spoon and discard.
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Add gnocchi, escarole, and carrot; bring soup back to a simmer. Stir in half-and-half, spinach, and basil. When gnocchi rise to the top, remove from heat.
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Discard bay leaf and garnish with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese to serve.
