Description
Hearty Creamy Spinach Artichoke Soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending velvety textures with rich Mediterranean flavors. Packed with nutritious ingredients and simple elegance, this soup promises a delightful culinary experience you can savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 (14 ounces/396 grams) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Liquid and Broth Ingredients:
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- Juice of ½ lemon (for brightness)
Aromatics and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Initiate the flavor foundation by gently melting butter in a spacious pot over medium warmth, allowing the onions to transform into a translucent, tender canvas of aromatics.
- Introduce minced garlic and allow its pungent essence to bloom for a fleeting moment, infusing the butter with its characteristic fragrance.
- Dust flour across the aromatic mixture, whisking with precision to construct a silky roux that will serve as the soup’s thickening agent, ensuring a smooth and luxurious texture.
- Gradually cascade chicken broth into the pot, maintaining a continuous whisking motion to prevent any unwelcome lumps from forming, creating a harmonious liquid base.
- Elevate the liquid to a gentle simmer, allowing the broth to develop depth and complexity while periodically stirring to prevent any potential scorching.
- Incorporate chopped artichoke hearts and vibrant spinach leaves, watching as the verdant greens gracefully wilt and merge into the developing soup.
- Reduce the heat to a subtle low, then introduce heavy cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, stirring until the cheeses surrender into a creamy, unified embrace.
- Allow the soup to gently simmer, developing a rich, velvety consistency while the ingredients meld their distinctive flavors.
- Brighten the entire composition with a splash of lemon juice, cutting through the richness and awakening the palate.
- Perform a final seasoning taste test, adjusting salt and pepper as needed to achieve a perfectly balanced profile.
- Ladle the soup into waiting bowls, accompanied by crusty bread or garlic toast for a complete, comforting dining experience.
Notes
- Choose fresh, high-quality artichoke hearts for the most vibrant flavor and tender texture in your soup.
- Opt for fresh spinach instead of frozen to maintain a brighter color and more robust taste profile.
- Customize the soup’s thickness by adjusting the amount of chicken broth or cream to suit your preference.
- Transform this recipe into a vegetarian version by swapping chicken broth with vegetable broth and using plant-based cheese alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer.
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg