Soup makes a cozy meal that warms you up. This gnocchi spinach, and meatball soup mixes soft gnocchi with juicy meatballs and fresh spinach to make a filling and yummy dish. This guide will show you how to cook this tasty soup from scratch giving you tips and details to help you nail it.
Ingredients
To Make the Meatballs:
- Ground beef: 1 pound
- Breadcrumbs: 1/2 cup
- Parmesan cheese: 1/4 cup, grated
- Egg: 1 beaten
- Garlic: 2 cloves chopped fine
- Parsley: 2 tablespoons cut up
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
To Make the Soup:
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Onion: 1 large cut into cubes
- Carrot: 2 medium, skin removed and cut into cubes
- Celery: 2 stalks, cut into cubes
- Garlic: 3 cloves, chopped fine
- Chicken broth: 6 cups
- Diced tomatoes: 1 can (14.5 ounces)
- Gnocchi: 1 package (about 16 ounces)
- Fresh spinach: 4 cups chopped
- Bay leaves: 2
- Thyme: 1 teaspoon dried
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
Instructions
Step 1: Get the Meatballs Ready
- Combine Ingredients: Put the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese beaten egg minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper in a big bowl. Mix everything until it’s all blended well.
- Create Meatballs: Use the mixture to make small meatballs about 1 inch across. You should end up with about 20 meatballs.
- Cook Meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a bit of olive oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides until they cook through about 5-7 minutes. Take them out of the skillet and set aside.
Step 2: Make the Soup Base
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Season the Soup: Put bay leaves dried thyme, salt, and black pepper in the pot. Let the soup base simmer for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
Step 3: Add Gnocchi and Meatballs
- Cook Gnocchi: Put the gnocchi in the simmering soup. Cook as the package says about 2-3 minutes or until they rise to the top.
- Return Meatballs to Pot: Put the browned meatballs back into the soup . Simmer for 5 more minutes making sure the meatballs are hot and the gnocchi is ready to eat.
Step 4: Add Spinach and Serve
- Add Spinach: Put the fresh spinach in the pot and cook until it wilts, which takes about 2 minutes.
- Adjust Seasonings: Sample the soup and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Pour the soup into bowls and eat it while it’s hot. You can have it with crusty bread if you want.
Tips to Make It Great
- Meatball Size: To cook meatballs try to shape them all the same size.
- Browning Meatballs: When you brown the meatballs before adding them to the soup, it adds flavor. But if you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step.
- Gnocchi Cooking Time: Add gnocchi near the end of cooking to avoid overcooking, as it cooks fast.
- Spinach: To keep spinach’s bright color and fresh taste, add it last.
Variations
- Vegetarian Option: Use vegetarian or plant-based meatballs and vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Spicy Kick: Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Different Greens: Try kale or Swiss chard if you like them better than spinach.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigeration: Keep leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. To freeze, let it cool fully before you put it in freezer-safe containers.
- Reheating: Heat the soup on the stove over medium heat until it’s warm all the way through. If the soup has gotten too thick, add some chicken broth or water to get it to the thickness you want.
This gnocchi spinach, and meatball soup recipe brings together a mix of tastes and textures that complement each other well. It’s a good pick if you want a warm comforting meal. If you follow these steps, you’ll end up with a tasty and filling dish that works for any time. Have fun cooking and eating!