Easy recipes of the week: gnocchi chicken soup
“What are we eating today?” It is probably the most asked question in the world. After a day full of hustle and bustle, running from here to there and an overflowing agenda, you really don't feel like spending hours in the kitchen. We understand that. You want to whip up something delicious that isn't just a quick bite, but doesn't take hours either. Because while we all sometimes crave a quick meal, you also don't want to settle for a boring, quickly made meal every day. Luckily, I have something for you! In the section “Easy recipes of the week” we search every Monday for the fastest, easiest, and tastiest recipes that you can put on the table in no time. This week: gnocchi chicken soup.
Now that we are slowly getting closer to winter, it is getting colder and colder. You spend more time indoors, you want warmth. You seek comfort. And what do you want then? Soup. In all flavors. You want to sit on the couch with a warm cup in your hands, tucked under a blanket while Love Actually it rises. Mmm, or well, maybe I'm putting words in your mouth, but soup on such a cold day is the absolute best after a long workday, right? At least in my world it is. And not just any soup from a packet, but a fresh one that is ready to serve. A good meal soup that is not filled with penne, but with gnocchi. That's right: gnocchi in chicken soup. Familiar comfort food with an Italian twist.
The shopping list
- 1 onion
- 4 to 5 cloves of garlic
- 4 to 5 winter carrots
- 4 to 5 stalks of celery
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- +/- 750 ml water
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 2 chicken thigh fillets
- 200 to 240 ml cooking cream
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons Italian herbs
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Pepper and salt to taste
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- 400 to 500 grams of gnocchi
- +/- 150 grams of grated mozzarella
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh basil
The preparation
Step 1: Poach the chicken
If you want chicken soup, then there must be chicken in it. And no, you can't just throw raw chicken into the soup two seconds before serving (for those who had that silly thought). First, put the chicken in a large soup pot. Add a chicken bouillon cube and 750 ml of water so that the chicken is just submerged. Poach the chicken in the broth for about 10 minutes with the lid on the pot. Once it's done, take the chicken out and place it on a cutting board. Then cut it into small strips or just shred it.
Step 2: Sauté the vegetables
Strain the broth into a bowl before adding the vegetables, so that no weird pieces of chicken are left behind. And then... yes, when making soup, you always start with the same base: sautéing vegetables. And that often consists of the same trio, aka carrot, celery, and onion. Chop them all into small pieces. Then heat a splash of olive oil in the pan and sauté them for five minutes. While that cooks, chop the garlic cloves into small pieces. Or you can put them in a garlic press – that's just as easy.
Step 3: Continue making the soup
After a few minutes, add the tomato paste to the vegetables. Let it cook for another three minutes. Then add the garlic; this can cook for a minute, after which you can finally add the strained broth and the cooking cream. Mix it well and bring the whole thing to a boil.
Step 4: Seasoning
Once your soup is boiling, you will add all the spices: the garlic powder, the Italian herbs, the dried oregano, pepper, and salt. And the fun part about cooking is that you can do this by feel. Taste it to see if you find it strong enough. Keep in mind that the flavor of the spices may diminish due to the cooking cream and broth, so a little extra spice never hurts. Then add two large handfuls of spinach to the soup.
Step 5: The gnocchi is in the house
Is everything mixed and seasoned to your liking? Then sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese into the soup. Let it simmer for a few more minutes with the lid on the pot. Then add the chicken and gnocchi; this only needs a short time. After two to three minutes, the gnocchi is ready. (Tip: as soon as the gnocchi starts to float, it is done.) Sprinkle – as much as your heart desires – mozzarella on top and let it sit on low heat for another half a minute to a minute, so the cheese can melt.
Step 6: Serving
And then your soup is finally ready. Serve it in a large bowl and grate some fresh Parmesan cheese on top for an extra creamy soup. For a little extra wow effect and a delicious taste, finish it off with some fresh parsley and basil. That's it. This way you have a meal soup with an Italian touch.
@aya.eats chicken gnocchi soup 🍂 🤎 1 onion 🤎 4-5 cloves of garlic 🤎 4-5 carrots 🤎 4-5 stalks of celery 🤎 1 tbsp of tomato paste 🤎 1 container of chicken stock 🤎 2-3 cups of water (to fill the pot) 🤎 1/4 cup of half & half 🤎 garlic powder, dried Italian spices, dried oregano, salt, and pepper 🤎 shredded mozzarella 🤎 freshly grated Parmesan 🤎 chopped parsley for garnish . . #chickengnocchisoup #cozysoupseries #cozykitchen #souprecipe #cozyrecipes #autumnrecipes #autumn #fallsoupseries #cookwithme
This is totally cozy vibes, right? Amazing. I am really craving soup now. What am I going to do at the end of the workday? Stop by the supermarket and get all the ingredients, duh. This must and will be on my table tonight.
