Chicken, Spinach & Gnocchi Soup

Oolala's Note:

From The Food Network Favorites Cookbook. My friend Maura, sent me this recipe after telling me it was so good, she had dreams about it! Didn't want to lose it.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 cups gnocchi , packaged
• 4 cups chicken broth , low sodium
• 4 garlic cloves , thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pinch sugar
• 3 cups baby spinach leaves , sliced to avoid clumping
• 2 cups cooked chicken , sliced into strips
• fresh ground black pepper
• parmesan cheese , shredded, use a high quality cheese
• salt , to taste, remember the cheese is salty

Directions:

1. Bring a medium saucepan of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt.
2. Add the gnocchi and cook, stirring occasionally for three minutes; Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, put l/4 cup of the chicken broth, garlic, butter and sugar in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
4. Bring it to a simmer, and cook uncovered, until under garlic is tender, about 1 minute.
5. Add the spinach and let it wilt for about 30 seconds.
6. Add the remaining 3 l/4 cups chicken broth and the chicken.
7. Add salt, but be careful because the cheese is salty, and a generous amount of pepper, to taste.
8. Ladle the soup into warmed shallow bowls and shower each with some freshly grated cheese.

Reviews

[wingsie]

I make this soup a couple times a month. It is light but still tasty. This recipe is what got me to start cooking with spinach! Even my kids enjoy it (my 4 year old won't eat the spinach of course but LOVES the gnocchi and chicken, my 1 year old will eat every bite). And even my husband, who is a soup-hater (why, I'll never understand), adores it.

[SMBcoffee]

SO good! I make a vegetarian version of this soup with margarine and Qorn's chicken tender substitute (found in the freezer section of my natural market). I made this for a work party, and have had numerous people ask for the recipe.