Description
Olive garden chicken gnocchi soup delivers creamy comfort with tender gnocchi and savory chicken in a rich broth. Home cooks can easily recreate this restaurant favorite with simple ingredients and straightforward preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16 oz/454 g) package potato gnocchi
- 1 cup cooked, diced chicken breast
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup diced celery
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium flame, then add onion, celery, and garlic, cooking until onions turn translucent and release their fragrant essence.
- Create Roux: Sprinkle flour into the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly to eliminate raw flour notes and establish a smooth foundation for the soup’s texture.
- Build Liquid Layers: Gradually whisk in half-and-half and chicken broth, ensuring a smooth, velvety liquid develops without lumps or separation.
- Develop Flavor Profile: Incorporate dried thyme, parsley flakes, ground nutmeg, and shredded carrots, raising heat momentarily to activate the aromatic components.
- Integrate Proteins: Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, folding in pre-cooked diced chicken and potato gnocchi, allowing them to harmonize within the creamy liquid.
- Final Touches: Add fresh spinach leaves, letting them delicately wilt into the soup, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to balance and enhance the overall taste.
- Serve: Ladle the rich, comforting soup into bowls, presenting a warm and inviting culinary creation ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
- Master Flour Technique: Prevent clumping by gradually sprinkling flour and continuously whisking to create a smooth, lump-free base for creamy texture.
- Control Simmering Temperature: Keep heat low and steady to prevent half-and-half from separating or scorching, maintaining a silky soup consistency.
- Optimize Gnocchi Tenderness: Add pre-cooked gnocchi during final minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain their delicate, pillowy texture.
- Enhance Dietary Flexibility: Substitute half-and-half with lighter alternatives like almond milk or coconut cream for lactose-free or lower-calorie version, ensuring similar creamy richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 363
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg